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http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23284217-2862,00.html
Leader no terrorist, court told
Norrie Ross
February 27, 2008 04:50pm
A MAN described as the leader of a Melbourne terrorist cell was frustrated at the plight of Muslims overseas but never planned violent acts in Australia, a jury has heard.
Defence lawyer Remy van de Wiel, QC, described Abdul Nacer Benbrika, 48, as a "leader and moderator" who operated on reason and hope and not violent reaction.
Mr Benbrika lived in a Muslim ghetto and his secretly taped discussions with his 11 co-accused reflected their frustrations at the treatment of "his people" in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya and other Islamic countries.
Opening his client's case the QC said Mr Benbrika made no secret that he believed it was the duty of all Muslims to engage in jihad if the "prerequisites" were right.
It was no different, Mr van de Wiel said, to a Christian saying that if a member of their religion was oppressed, or the religion was oppressed it was their duty to stand up and fight for them.
The Crown had no evidence Mr Benbrika was ever in possession of explosives, or weapons or ammunition.
"I say this about him. He is a man who is not a terrorist," Mr van de Wiel said.
Mr van de Wiel told the jury they might be shocked at some of the violent language the group used but that was based on the literature they were reading and their frustration at what was happening in the Middle East.
He said the Bible was full of violent language and called on Christians to put homosexuals and adulterers to death, to disregard heathen judges and threatened plagues on unbelievers.
Women were commanded women to cover their heads and remain silent in the Bible, he said.
"It is not very different at all from what these men are looking at in terms of their own literature," Mr van de Wiel said.
On trial before Justice Bernard Bongiorno are: Abdul Nacer Benbrika, of Dallas, Shane Kent, 31, Meadow Heights, Majed Raad, 23, Coburg, Abdullah Merhi, 22, Fawkner, Aimen Joud, 23, Hoppers Crossing, Ahmed Raad, 24, Fawkner, Fadl Sayadi, 28, Coburg, Ezzit Raad, 26, Preston, Hany Taha, 33, Hadfield, Shoue Hammoud, 28, Hadfield, Bassam Raad, 26, Brunswick and Amer Haddara, 28, Yarraville.
The trial is continuing.
Leader no terrorist, court told
Norrie Ross
February 27, 2008 04:50pm
A MAN described as the leader of a Melbourne terrorist cell was frustrated at the plight of Muslims overseas but never planned violent acts in Australia, a jury has heard.
Defence lawyer Remy van de Wiel, QC, described Abdul Nacer Benbrika, 48, as a "leader and moderator" who operated on reason and hope and not violent reaction.
Mr Benbrika lived in a Muslim ghetto and his secretly taped discussions with his 11 co-accused reflected their frustrations at the treatment of "his people" in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya and other Islamic countries.
Opening his client's case the QC said Mr Benbrika made no secret that he believed it was the duty of all Muslims to engage in jihad if the "prerequisites" were right.
It was no different, Mr van de Wiel said, to a Christian saying that if a member of their religion was oppressed, or the religion was oppressed it was their duty to stand up and fight for them.
The Crown had no evidence Mr Benbrika was ever in possession of explosives, or weapons or ammunition.
"I say this about him. He is a man who is not a terrorist," Mr van de Wiel said.
Mr van de Wiel told the jury they might be shocked at some of the violent language the group used but that was based on the literature they were reading and their frustration at what was happening in the Middle East.
He said the Bible was full of violent language and called on Christians to put homosexuals and adulterers to death, to disregard heathen judges and threatened plagues on unbelievers.
Women were commanded women to cover their heads and remain silent in the Bible, he said.
"It is not very different at all from what these men are looking at in terms of their own literature," Mr van de Wiel said.
On trial before Justice Bernard Bongiorno are: Abdul Nacer Benbrika, of Dallas, Shane Kent, 31, Meadow Heights, Majed Raad, 23, Coburg, Abdullah Merhi, 22, Fawkner, Aimen Joud, 23, Hoppers Crossing, Ahmed Raad, 24, Fawkner, Fadl Sayadi, 28, Coburg, Ezzit Raad, 26, Preston, Hany Taha, 33, Hadfield, Shoue Hammoud, 28, Hadfield, Bassam Raad, 26, Brunswick and Amer Haddara, 28, Yarraville.
The trial is continuing.