Courts / Waterford / Report
324 Islamic terrorists in US prisons, High Court hears
Summary
The High Court heard further submissions in the extradition proceedings against Ali Charaf Damache, an Algerian-born Irish citizen wanted in the United States for conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and attempted identity theft. Counsel for the Attorney General stated that 324 inmates in the US prison system have convictions for Islamic-type terrorism offences, with 10 per cent held in the ADX Supermax Prison. Damache's legal team argued that he could also be sent to other facilities with Communication Management Units. The court noted that if convicted in the US, Damache faces up to 45 years in jail. The High Court previously heard allegations that Damache conspired with Colleen LaRose, who was jailed for ten years in 2014 after admitting involvement in a plot to murder Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, and Jamie Paulin Ramirez, who was sentenced to eight years in the US after pleading guilty to providing material support to terrorists. In Ireland, Damache was arrested in March 2013 minutes after pleading guilty to sending a menacing phone call to US Muslim activist Majed Moughni in January 2010, for which he was sentenced to three years. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly remanded Damache in custody until April 21, noting that a judgment was not anticipated by that date.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 324 Islamic terrorists in US prisons, High Court hears. Charges or matters: providing material support to terrorists; sending a menacing phone call to US Muslim activist Majed Moughni in January 2010. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 21 Adjournment
- September 13, 2009 Other
- March 2013 Incident
- January 2010 Incident
- 2015-02-27 Publication
Why: The High Court has heard the conviction of a terrorism crime is claimed to be sufficient reason for the transfer to the maximum security ADX Supermax Prison in Florence, Colorado, where prisoners can be held in solitary confinement for up to 22 hours a day and where conditions were described by a former warden as a "clean version of hell". CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: providing material support to terrorists; sending a menacing phone call to US Muslim activist Majed Moughni in January 2010 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: In January of 2014 LaRose was jailed for ten years by a Philadelphia judge, having admitted her involvement in a plot to murder Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, who sparked an international controversy by depicting the Prophet Mohammed on the head of a dog. Ramirez was sentenced in the US to eight years, after pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists.; She remanded Mr Damache in custody until April 21.
Places mentioned
- High Court
- Supreme Court
- The Supreme Court
- Ireland. The High Court
- The High Court
- ADX Supermax Prison
- US prison
- ADX Superman Prison
- Waterford
- Waterford Courthouse
Topics
Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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