Jihad training inside the U.S.: Muslim man “training for combat” sentenced to 10 months in jail

"This defendant was (shooting) weapons with people who were intent on engaging in Jihad against the United States," --Federal prosecutor Shelley Hicks

19 May 2007: Pakistani student and Taliban recruit Shiraz Syed QAZI, 26, serves as yet another example that Muslim men, intent on engaging in acts of Islamic jihad, are training for war right here inside the United States. Shiraz Syed QAZI, a Pakistani student in the U.S. who was found guilty of possession of a firearm by an alien during a trial in January, was sentenced on Thursday to ten-(10) months in jail, after which he is likely to be deported. He has already served just under six months in jail which will be credited to his sentence.

According to authorities, QAZI and three other Muslim men went on a paramilitary training outing in 2005 outside of Houston, Texas. Under federal law, it is illegal for a nonimmigrant with a student visa like QAZI to own or possess firearms or ammunition. He was convicted after a brief non-jury trial in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal.

Two of the other men, Adnan Babar MIRZA and Kobie Diallo WILLIAMS, were charged with conspiracy to join the Taliban and fight U.S. forces based on admissions made before, during and after the “camping trip,” which was decidedly paramilitary training by Muslim men “preparing for war.” The men were photographed by a government informant firing and holding guns during the outing.

MIRZA is a 29-year-old Pakistani who overstayed a student visa. He has been charged with three-(3) counts of violating federal firearms laws. His trial is scheduled to begin in late October and faces from five to 10 years for each charge.

WILLIAMS, 33, is a U.S. citizen who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and is set to be sentenced on October 12, 2007. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The fourth member of the group, Syed Maaz SHAH, is a 19-year-old Pakistani student at the University of Texas at Dallas. SHAH was charged with possession of a firearm by an alien and is scheduled for trial next week, facing up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

JIHAD in America: St. Louis area men charged with firearms violations