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Military Jury Convicts Al-Qaida Propagandist

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 4, 2008

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - A propagandist for Osama bin Laden who vowed to fight anyone who governs America faced a possible life sentence after being convicted Monday of making videos that encouraged al-Qaida members to commit terrorist attacks.
Ali Hamza al-Bahlul was found guilty of 35 counts of conspiracy, solicitation to commit murder and providing material support to terrorism.

The 39-year-old Yemeni sat calmly and showed no emotion as the verdict was read, but later defiantly admitted being a member of al-Qaida and said the United States has oppressed Muslims for 50 years.

Al-Bahlul was convicted of 17 counts of conspiracy, eight counts of solicitation to commit murder and 10 counts of providing material support for terrorism. Each count could bring life in prison.

The jury dismissed one count of conspiracy and one count of providing material support for terrorism.

Al-Bahlul, who was brought to Guantanamo in 2002, is the second prisoner to go through a war crimes trial under the special military commissions system. Former bin Laden driver Salim Hamdan was convicted in August and sentenced to 51/2 years in prison.

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