A Massachusetts man convicted of conspiring to help al-Qaida has been sentenced by a federal judge in Boston to 17 and a half years in prison. WAMC's Paul Tuthill reports…
Tarek Mehanna , a 29 year old pharmacy school graduate who grew up in a wealthy Boston suburb, described himself as a proud Muslim at his sentencing hearing and said he was angry at the United State. He compared himself to Paul Revere and Nelson Mandela, never denying the actions that resulted in his conviction.
Federal Judge George O-Toole said he troubled by the absence of remorse, but rejected the government’s recommendation for a 25 year prison term.
Federal authorities said Mehanna he had traveled to Yemen for terrorist training and planned to go to Iraq to kill US Soldiers, but instead returned to the US where he used online posts to promote violent jihad.
His defense claimed Mehanna was only exercising his free speech rights.
Paul Tuthill, WAMC News.
