- Some notes on the 2/1/2010 ‘Boston Globe’ article by Shelley Murphy
These are some brief and by no means comprehensive comments on a recent article written about my case. I am not addressing every claim made therein, only those appropriate to address in this setting.
The article states: “Prosecutors allege that Mehanna provided support to terrorists, using a laptop as a weapon to try to radicalize others and incite jihad…”
Incidentally, the very government that accuses me of this was itself guilty of this deed not too long ago. In his book ‘Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA’ (p. 444), Tim Weiner states: “The CIA’s biggest gunrunning mission was its global pipeline to the mujahideen—the holy warriors of Afghanistan—who were fighting the 110,000 –man Soviet army of occupation.” In his book ‘Imperial Hubris’ (p. 28), former CIA officer Michael Scheuer elaborates: “…the CIA…had run in Afghanistan the largest, most expensive, and most well-publicized covert action program in U.S history to support the anti-Soviet mujahideen…the interest of members of both houses of Congress in the Afghan covert program was intense; many senators and congressmen demanded regular, detailed briefings on the war, traveled repeatedly to the region, and voted enthusiastically for the war’s steadily growing covert action budget.”
He continues (p. 30): “…the size and diverse nature of this 13-year program [included] guns, food, vehicles, money, training, uniforms, orange drink, donkeys, you name it…” And on p. 50: “America…sent billions of dollars in cash, weapons, bribes, salaries, and supplies to the Afghan resistance in the course of its ten-year jihad against the Soviets…”
n: justify;\”>This is elementary history, but the above is quoted simply to emphasize the fact that the American government used not just a laptop, but billions upon billions of dollars to directly “radicalize others and incite jihad” for over a decade! I therefore find it ironic and hypocritical that the same government now uses the same “crime” as a pretext to throw myself and countless others in prison. IN a fair world, I would’ve had Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Milt Bearden, Zbigniew Brzezinski, and countless others sitting in prison cells right alongside me to face the same allegations.
The article continues: “…by translating and disseminating messages of violence online.”
Here it should be kept in mind that when the media parrots the term “violence” in reference to Muslims, it is not necessarily referring to blowing up a building or plane. Rather, the keen observer will notice that the term expands even to acts of self-defense. So, if one finds that his country has been invaded, his people bombed, and his honor violated, and proceeds to physically struggle against that oppression—much like the Revolutionary Army did under British occupation, and the African National Congress did under apartheid—and happens to be doing so into eh name of Islam, the government and media automatically label such people as “terrorists,” “extremists,” “violent,” etc., as if somehow the invasions and occupations being faced are non-violent in nature. So, one finds “violence” only is being attributed to the invaded, and not the invaders. This is implicit racism and dehumanization of Muslims, because it suggests that we are not entitled to the basic human right to not be subjugated by others, let alone not be killed by them.
To give an analogy, imagine that a woman is being raped. She attempts to fend off her attacker by punching and scratching him. At this point, an onlooker comments on how “violent” the woman is, striking the man like that! His bias causes him to view the situation from the perspective that the attacker is entitled to his attack, while the woman is not entitled to defend herself from that attack, and is “violent” if she dares to do so.
This is the pattern of deception found in the media’s use of these terms, so do not allow yourself to fall prey to it.
Bruce Hoffman is then quoted as saying: “We’re in a different world. Ten years ago, it was very hard to imagine a case like this.”
Welcome to ten years later, where words spoken over 1400 years ago to Prophet Muhammad by a Christian monk ring true. This monk said to him: “Nobody who comes with what you have brought will not be treated with hostility by the people. And if I were to live to that day, I would support you with all I have.” For thirteen years in Makkah, the Prophet did nothing but teach a pure concept of Tawhid and wala’ and bara’. He never lifted a finger against Quraysh or harmed them. Yet, they beat him, strangled him, plotted to imprison and kill him, and eventually forced his departure from his homeland. It was what he believed that drove them to persecute him in such a fashion. It was his unwillingness to compromise with them in regards to his beliefs that drove them mad, despite their earlier tolerance of his call.
So, when Mr. Hoffman notes how far we’ve come in ten years, it is a reflection on history repeating itself. The various governments here and there are simply picking up where Abu Jahl and Abu Lahab left off. I can tell you from my own experience that in the U.S. government’s argument to the judge to keep me locked up, they would often quote—literally—verses from the Qur’an and authentic ahadith and agreed upon rulings in Islam in an attempt to prove my so-called extremism. Of course they would not say they were quoting such sources, but that is exactly what was occurring.
So, if we’ve come this far in the past ten years, one can only imagine what things will be like in the next ten years. History repeats itself…
Marc Sageman is then related as saying: “…the case raises concerns about infringement on free speech and civil liberties.”
I could not help here but recall the irony in the fact that this is exactly Google’s stated reason for withdrawing from China.
It then states that “FBI affidavits filed in court allege that Mehanna plotted to attack an American shopping mall and assassinate two unidentified U.S government officials,” but notes that I am “not formally charged with those crimes.”
Interesting… So, the most horrific of the allegations leveled against me is the only one I am not being charged with? Does that make any sense whatsoever?
Does it make an iota of sense that I supposedly “plotted” to do this, and was then left untouched for years after the FBI supposedly “found out” –years during which I visited the mall countless times, worked, graduated from college, repeatedly boarded airplanes, taught children, came into daily contact with hundreds of people, and was then asked by the FBI to work for them? Is this how a “dangerous terrorist” is treated? No intelligent mind can accept this.
Rather, what the intelligent mind will realize is that this fabrication was intended for two purposes. The first is shock value—to add flavor to an otherwise dull case. It is much more heroic at a press conference to have gotten a “mall-shooter” than it is to have to reveal to the public that in the midst of an economic disaster, $50,000 tax-payer dollars a year are going to be spent keeping some guy in solitary confinement because you couldn’t get him to do your bidding. Sometimes, the truth isn’t sellable to the public. In a sense, this is a microcosm of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Americans would never send their sons to die over there if they knew the true reasons behind the war. Therefore, to make it all palatable, the whole WMD scare was fabricated and utilized. Thus, people were frightened into believing a lie.
The second intent behind this lie is to serve as a form of character assassination, such that no matter what ends up being the truth, I am always guilty in the eyes of the public simply on account of my name being associated with such an accusation. This is a classic trick used throughout history, as far back as the conflict between Moses and Pharaoh (see the earlier article ‘Our Right to Moses’).
Those were just a few of many thoughts on Shelley Murphy’s article.
And may peace and blessings be on Allah’s Messenger.
Your brother,
Tariq Mehanna
Plymouth Correctional Facility
Isolation Unit—Cell 108
21st of Safar 1431/ Feb 6th 2010
