Meet Sayfildin Tahir Sharif , a man accused of murder and supporting a terrorist group.
Or alternatively, if he is to be believed, just a huge hornball (hat tip: BlazingCatFur).
Alberta’s highest court is contemplating whether an Edmonton man should be extradited to the United States to face terrorism and murder charges.
Three lawyers for Sayfildin Tahir Sharif argued Thursday that the man shouldn’t be surrendered to face trial in New York.
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The 41-year-old is accused of murder and supporting a terrorist group that took part in a suicide bombing in his native Iraq. Five U.S. soldiers were killed when a truck filled with explosives was detonated at a military checkpoint in 2009.
Canada’s Justice minister granted extradition last summer, after receiving assurances from the U.S. that Sharif wouldn’t face the death penalty. A few weeks ago, defence lawyers also received a letter from U.S. authorities promising the man won’t be held indefinitely in pre-trial detention.
Sharif, who also goes by the name Faruq Khalil Muhammad Isa, is an ethnic Kurd who was born in Iraq but moved to Toronto as a refugee in 1993. Four years later, he became a Canadian citizen.
In 2011, he was arrested at an Edmonton apartment where he lived with his girlfriend and her children.
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Court heard that evidence led to intercepted phone and Internet conversations. The Crown argued the conversations showed Sharif helped jihadists contact members of a terrorist network as they made their way from Tunisia to Iraq to make the attacks.
Germain called the recorded calls and emails “chilling.” He cited one email between Sharif and another terror suspect who was “preparing for a one-way journey to death.” The pair discussed the number of virgins the man would get in heaven.
Sharif was further questioned by police about counselling a young woman in Morocco over the Internet about becoming a suicide bomber. Sharif told RCMP he was just showing off because he wanted a relationship with the woman, and he doesn’t believe in suicide bombers.
The good news for Sharif is where he is likely going, he’ll be getting some.
Sure, he won’t be viewing shower time quite the same, but beggers can’t be choosers.
