Islamabad, Jihad on the Internet: terrorism charges for five U.S. students

Hassan Dastagir, the student’s lawyer, tells the Pakistani newspaper The Dawn that at present, a formal charge has not yet been issued of against them. However, the police have filed a detailed document to the court of Sargodha, and they are awaiting the verdict of the judiciary. The report speaks of "conspiracy with criminal purpose," adds the lawyer, with the intention to move into neighbouring countries "to overthrow the government" in office and "raise money" to finance attacks.  

The courts are expected to accept the formal accusation - and order the trial - on 10 March. Previously appearing before the magistrates, the young people said that they would provide medicines and financial aid to Muslim friends who live in Afghanistan. If convicted, Hassan Dastagir, warns they risk a life sentence.

The police believe that the group was headed across the border to join the Taliban guerrillas in the fight against the Kabul government and the coalition forces. They are American citizens, but of different origins, two Pakistanis, one Egyptian, one Yemeni and one Eritrean. The e-mails sent by young people, investigators reveal, show "contacts with Pakistani militants, who were intending to use them to plan attacks in Pakistan."  

The five defendants accuse the Pakistani police and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of torture. An accusation strongly denied by the authorities in Islamabad, which denies any mistreatment.

Ahmed Rashid, author of "Descent into Chaos" on Pakistani facts and expert on the Taliban, stressed that the story represents "an impressive development" in the strategy of the terrorists, who use modern technology to recruit new followers. Pervez Hoodhbhoy, professor of physics in Pakistan, pointed the finger at religious schools, the madrassas, some of which are "breeding grounds for extremism." He has received death threats from fundamentalists, but will not be bowed and echoed: "The Internet has provided them with new ties to jihadist groups around the world”.