Islamic lecturer convicted of recruiting for Taliban

WASHINGTON - An Islamic scholar was convicted by a jury in the eastern US state of Virginia on Tuesday of recruiting followers for the former Taliban militia in Afghanistan.
Ali Al-Timimi, 41, a lecturer at the Dar al Arqam Islamic Center, was convicted on all 10 counts after seven days of deliberation by a jury in Alexandria, Virginia, a court official said.
US District Court judge Leonie Brinkema set sentencing for July 13. Brinkema is the same judge trying Zacarias Moussaoui, who pleaded guilty on Friday to conspiracy in connection wth the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.
Al-Timimi, of Fairfax, Virginia, could face life in prison.
He had been accused of encouraging at least five other men to join the Taliban in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
Al-Timimi allegedly encouraged Masoud Khan, Randall Royer, Yong Kwon, Muhammad Aatique and Khwaja Hasan "and others to conspire to levy war against the United States."
Royer, Kwon, Aatique and Hasan have pleaded guilty to other charges while Khan has been convicted on various terrorism-related charges.

04/26/2005 18:59 GMT