DIY Jihad author to serve nine years
The Daily Telegraph
September 25, 2009
Belal Saadallah Khazaal arrives in handcuffs at the NSW Supreme Court at King Street, Sydney for his sentencing hearing for his producing of a book knowing it could assist a terrorist act. Picture: Amos Aikman Source: AAP
A SYDNEY man who produced a do-it-yourself jihad book has been sentenced to at least nine years in prison.
In September last year, a NSW Supreme Court jury found Belal Khazaal guilty of making a document - between September 20 and 23, 2003 - connected with assistance in a terrorist act, and knowing about that connection.
The 110-page book, in Arabic, entitled Provisions Of The Rules of Jihad - Short Judicial Rulings And Organisational Instructions For Fighters And Mujahideen Against Infidels, contained advice about terrorist acts such as exploding bombs, shooting down planes and assassinating people such as former US president George W Bush.
Khazaal has never denied making the book, but said it was never intended to incite terrorist acts.
“Only sentenced to Jail term because he is a Muslim”
At his sentencing on Friday, Justice Megan Latham said she found it "unsurprising'' a jury had rejected his defence.
"It beggars belief that a person of average intelligence who has devoted themselves to the study of Islam over some years would fail to recognise the nature of the material,'' she said.
"The dissemination of extremist activity, connected or unconnected with a terrorist plot, is caught by the government's (anti-terror) scheme ... (because such material) is capable and is shown to foment terrorist activity.''
Khazaal was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with a non-parole period of nine years.
With time already served, he will be eligible for release after August 31, 2017.
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