A Nigerian man accused of trying to bomb a Northwest flight to Detroit on Christmas Day was arraigned Friday in a quiet hearing that lasted barely four minutes yet attracted a throng of reporters, protesters and curious observer. It is said that he was wearing a white shirt and metal shackles on his feet, with his head shaved, the defendant, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, was silent when his lawyers entered a plea of not guilty.
On Wednesday, a federal grand jury indicted Mr. Abdulmutallab on six charges, including attempted murder on an airplane, attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and related offenses. He is accused of concealing explosives in his underwear and of trying to detonate them with a syringe of chemicals as Northwest Flight 253, which carried 289 passengers and crew members from Amsterdam, was descending for landing in Detroit. He managed to start a small fire but was overpowered by other passengers and flight attendants, and the plane landed safely. [1]
Asked whether he was taking medication, Mr. Abdulmutallab responded: “In the last 24 hours? Some painkillers.”
His lawyers waived a detention hearing and consented to having Mr. Abdulmutallab continue to be held in the federal prison in Milan, near Ann Arbor.
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. has said that Mr. Abdulmutallab could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted. Mr. Holder has also said that the government has obtained significant information from Mr. Abdulmutallab about the Yemen-based branch of Al Qaeda that is suspected of planning the attack.Mr. Abdulmutallab’s father, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, a respected Nigerian banker, alerted both Nigerian and American authorities in the fall that his son, a Muslim, had become radicalized and had moved to Yemen. Two Nigerian lawyers — Maryam Uwais and Mahmud Kazaure — attended Friday’s hearing to observe for the family. [2]
As it is evident another wave of terror and insecurity encompassed U.S and Americans on Christmas Eve. More important than the event is its consequences that inflicts other Muslims in all parts of the world and especially Muslims in America itself. These kind of actions are doomed in all parts of the world and by all humans regardless of their religion and race and culture and no true human in any part of the world confirms these kind of actions and that’s why dozens of Muslims from nearby Dearborn gathered outside the courthouse carrying large American flags and colorful signs that read “NOT in the name of Islam” and “Islam is against terrorism.” And as another example of outrage we can mention “Abdulmutallab is not Muslim,” said Mohssen Sadeq, 40, who said he came to the United States from Yemen in 2000. “I need peace and freedom everywhere. I don’t want terrorists anywhere. This is my country. I love America.” in spite of all these outrages unfortunately a sense of disrespect and fear exists among non-Muslims toward Muslims and Iranians as a Muslim nation are not exceptional in this kind of feelings.
Sources
1. Nigerian Arraigned in Bomb Attempt, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/us/09detroit.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
2. www.rte.ie/news/2009/1226/usterror.html
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