U.S. Terrorism Suspects In Pakistan Defend Actions As Justified Under Islam: "We Are Jihadists, And Jihad Is Not Terrorism"

The New York Times reports that one "of the five young Americans detained in Pakistan in early December said Monday that they had intended to go to Afghanistan to wage jihad against Western forces. But while defending their effort as justified under Islam, the young suspect also denied any links to Al Qaeda or plans to carry out terrorist attacks in Pakistan, as the Pakistani authorities have contended. The young Muslims from the Washington suburbs addressed a court for the first time since their arrest in the city of Sargodha. The case has spurred fears that Westerners are traveling to Pakistan to join militant groups. The Pakistani police have said they plan to seek life sentences under the country’s anti-terrorism law."

“We are not terrorists,” the suspect, Ramy Zamzam, said as he entered the courtroom. “We are jihadists, and jihad is not terrorism.” Tweet