Gary Batasar, a lawyer for Steven Chand, one of the arrested men, said that an 8-page synopsis presented in court by prosecutors described plans to blow up the Canadian Parliament's buildings in Ottawa, storm the studios of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, demand the release of Muslim prisoners, and behead hostages if the government did not comply.
He said Mr. Chand and several others in the group were also accused in the synopsis of wanting to behead the Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper.
Scores of people, most of them with unrelated business at the courthouse, waited outside in long lines for clearance to enter the building. Anyone who appeared to be Muslim or who seemed to have a connection to the terrorism case was quickly mobbed by the reporters and television crews on the scene. Most refused to respond to questions; a few complained about ethnic stereotyping by the news media.
Why on Earth would they think the news media has an ethnic stereotype of Muslims as potential terrorists? It's not like they would ever plan to blow up buildings, storm buildings and behead hostages...oh, wait, nevermind.
Donald F. McLeod, a lawyer for Jahmaal James, one of the men arrested in the terrorism case, complained to reporters about the conditions under which his client and others were being held. He said they were being kept under 24-hour supervision, had not been allowed to make phone calls and were able to speak to visiting relatives only through thick Plexiglas.
Cry me a river.
(Source: New York Times More: Reuters)
Technorati Tags: Islam, Muslim, Mosque, terrorism, Canada, Toronto, beheading, bombing, terrorist, Stephen Harper
