首页  | 新闻播报

'Jihad Jane' sentenced to 10 years for murder plot

中国日报网 2014-01-08 10:07

分享到微信

Get Flash Player

Download

A US judge on Monday sentenced a US woman who called herself Jihad Jane to 10 years in prison -at least a decade less than prosecutors had sought for her role in a failed plot to kill a Swedish artist who had depicted the head of the Muslim prophet Mohammad on a dog.

Colleen LaRose, 50, who converted to Islam online and has maintained her faith, was given credit for the four years she has already served. LaRose, who pleaded guilty to following orders in 2009 from alleged al-Qaida operatives, could have received a life sentence.

"It's a just and reasonable sentence," her attorney, Mark Wilson, told reporters after the hearing. "She's pleased. Ten years is about what we were hoping for all along."

US District Judge Petrese Tucker called LaRose's crimes "gravely serious", adding: "The court has no doubt that, given the opportunity, Ms LaRose would have completed the mission."

Tucker also cited the significant cooperation LaRose has given the Federal Bureau of Investigation in other terrorism cases since her 2009 arrest.

LaRose, who used the name Jihad Jane as she became involved in the Muslim online community, traveled to Europe in 2009 intending to participate in a militant plot to shoot artist Lars Vilks.

But LaRose became impatient with the men who lured her to Europe and she gave up after six weeks and returned to Philadelphia, where she was arrested.

At Monday's hearing, LaRose apologized for blindly following the instructions of her handlers.

"I was in a trance, and I couldn't see anything else," she said. "I don't want to be in jihad no more."

Assistant US Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams had sought "decades behind bars" for LaRose, arguing that despite her extensive cooperation, she still was a danger to society. Prosecutors also had pointed out that LaRose -a blond, green-eyed, white American - did not fit the stereotype of an Islamic militant.

While LaRose was in contact with an al-Qaida operative in Pakistan, her conspirators repeatedly bungled a plot that never moved much past the planning stages. Vilks, the artist, had told Reuters that he believes LaRose has spent enough time in prison and should be freed.

(中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑)

About the broadcaster:

Anne Ruisi is an editor at China Daily online with more than 30 years of experience as a newspaper editor and reporter. She has worked at newspapers in the U.S., including The Birmingham News in Alabama and City Newspaper of Rochester, N.Y.

中国日报网英语点津版权说明:凡注明来源为“中国日报网英语点津:XXX(署名)”的原创作品,除与中国日报网签署英语点津内容授权协议的网站外,其他任何网站或单位未经允许不得非法盗链、转载和使用,违者必究。如需使用,请与010-84883561联系;凡本网注明“来源:XXX(非英语点津)”的作品,均转载自其它媒体,目的在于传播更多信息,其他媒体如需转载,请与稿件来源方联系,如产生任何问题与本网无关;本网所发布的歌曲、电影片段,版权归原作者所有,仅供学习与研究,如果侵权,请提供版权证明,以便尽快删除。
本文相关阅读
5af95d3ba3103f6866ee845a

World 'safer' after al-Qaida battle

5af95d3ba3103f6866ee845a

Attacks to 'avenge' al-Qaida arrests

5af95d3ba3103f6866ee845a

Al-Qaida, Taliban rift emerges

人气排行
中国日报网 英语点津微信
中国日报网 双语小程序