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Joseph Rosenbaum P.A. / AP
In this photo made available by the defendant's lawyers, Izhar Khan, right, stands with attorney Joseph Rosenbaum outside the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Thursday.
A federal judge on Thursday dismissed charges of terrorism support and conspiracy against a Muslim cleric accused of funneling thousands of dollars to the Pakistani Taliban, citing a lack of evidence.
Izhar Khan, 26, an imam in South Florida, stood accused of the charges along with his father, but U.S. District Court Judge Robert Scola issued a verdict acquitting him. Scola ruled there was insufficient evidence against Khan, who is the imam of Masjid Jamaat Al-Mumineen mosque in Margate, Fla.
“I do not believe in good conscience that I can allow the case to go forward against Izhar Khan,” Scola said, The Miami Herald reported. “This court will not allow the sins of the father to be visited upon the son.”
Khan was immediately freed following the judge's decision.
“I’m happy with the justice system, to say the least, and I think justice was served,” Khan told the Miami Herald.
“[Izhar] is the baby of the [Khan] family,” Joseph Rosenbaum told reporters outside the courtroom with fellow defense attorney Marshall Dore Louis and members of Khan’s mosque. “I never saw the evidence against him. He was always innocent.”
Trial for Khan's father, 77 year-old Hafiz Khan, is expected to continue in federal court. The two had been held at a federal detention center since they were arrested in 2011, accused of funneling about $50,000 to the Taliban. Hafiz is also on trial on four terrorism support-related charges, which each carry a maximum 15-year prison sentence, The Associated Press reported.
Charges against another of Hafiz Khan’s sons were dropped earlier by prosecutors.
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“I’m happy with the justice system, to say the least, and I think justice was served,” Khan told the Miami Herald.
As he said to himself 'SUCKERS'.
got to believe that's right.
Im more worried about the Douchbag on the left in the picture. That man has ethics on par with a child molester for defending someone like that.
Razz, not to mention the fact the scum is Jewish and the rag head wants to kill him because of it.
I think it's reasonable to assume the attorney is Jewish, and he'll be one of the first targeted if the Muslims get their way.
Hope the money was worth it.
IF he is NOT a U.S. citizen, the deport him quickly and never allow him to reenter the U.S.
Earl: deport him for what? The guy was acquitted, so in the eyes of the law is innocent (whether your bigotry likes it or not). What's next for you? So now we deport him because we don't like him? What about the day we grow tired of the name Earl? Can we deport you too? And if you are trying to shield yourself under the Constitution, I suggest you to read it before.
Yeah. Right. Not guilty. Sure.
He should have had his trial at GITMO!! Way to go OBAMA!!
Try and take our guns and let these killers go FREE
He wasn't accused of killing anyone.
Nobody took your guns away.
So he only give the killers the money! I guess that makes it alright for you!
I never said it was OK to give killers money - it's not.
Apparently there was no evidence that he gave them money, though.
Should Obama have fabricated some for you?
Right Mifo, these cretins don't like due process or equal protection under the law. The Second Amendment refers to the defense of a "free state". A "free state" is the last thing these brownshirts want.
So, AK... screw the presumption of innocence, right? We can toss the constitution to the garbage as long as we keep the second amendment? Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately?
If he wasn't born here, send him back. The US justice system is too PC with these people.
He was born in Pakistan but he's a US citizen now. Why don't you grab a gun and force him out at gun point if you feel so strongly about it.
George: Really? Deport him under what excuse? So now we are going to deport innocent people (until they present the evidence, the guy is innocent - or are we willing to trade our liberties in the name of paranoia)? Enlighten us, under what disguise you will trump the very same constitution you claim to venerate in order to satisfy your paranoia? Ben Franklin was right when he claimed that "People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both."
Wow, really? This story's been up for hours and there's only one post here that isn't racist and hateful? Well make that two now. He's been held for 2 years with no evidence whatsoever presented to his attorneys and he's not mad as hell and threatening to sue? Seems like he's a better guy than 95% of the people I come in contact with daily. And certainly more respectful than most of the "people" on these boards. If you don't know if he's a citizen, why would you even say anything and risk coming off as dumb as a box of rocks? Guess you just get used to that, huh?
Charges may have been dismissed, but I wouldn't look away yet.
Just another example of our court system letting us down.
What would you have had the court do, then? Specifically?
So, Stevephoenix (hopefuly not Arizona or I will really understand), how are you planning to rig the evidence so we can keep him incarcerated? Tell me, how are you going to spit on the constitution so vehemently try to defend?
We will know who to blame when they actually follow through with something against the US. Why do we treat terrorist and illegals with more respect then we treat the legals????
Steve... the guy is a US Citizen, and he was treated as any person in this country, with the principle that anyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law...
How on earth can any follower of that so-called religion possibly be loyal to America?
I actually know quite a few whom are loyal to America and are far better citizens that many "Americans" I know. My martial arts instructor was born and raised in Iran. His father was a general in the Iranian military until the Ayatollah took over. His family was exiled under threat of death but his parents remained there in defiance. He moved to the US, got an American education he paid for himself, opened up a martial arts school and has been a successful and contributing member of the community for more than 4 decades. He helped the air marshalls in instructing them in close combat scenarios, dealt with people vandalizing the school post 9/11 even though he's not Afghani, is a practicing Muslim but does not follow fundamentalist views that so many Americans think the majority of Muslims follow.
Would it be fair to say that all Catholics are child molestors and all Christians are rednecks just because the media portrays the rotten few? But then again many Americans slough off the comparison because they view themselves as exceptionally above everyone else.
The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance. It's sad how many people here choose the latter.
It is often said that a good prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich for conspiracy. Unfortunately, the FBI and DOJ have been going after a good many ham sandwiches over the last decade while completely ignoring the truly dangerous terrorists who are hell-bent on destroying our society and quality of life. The defendant received judicial due process, was judged entirely based upon the evidence (or lack thereof), and was ultimately set free -- get over it and move on.
If Izhar Khan is free because of lack of evidence... wouldn't be because maybe the son threw all the evidence on his own 77 year old father from day one? I just don't see a 77 year old man having the energy to scheme such thing or maybe the father just wants to protect his own son.
Well we should just make you king then and you can decide who's guilty in situations where there is only suspicion but no supporting evidence.
I din't imply he's guilty nor innocent. My veredict is not done, yet.
Luna: Your verdict really don't matter. The case was dismissed by the judge... and there is that pesky thing called double jeopardy in the constitution...
It was dismissed, he was not found innocent, difference.
Actually no, it is not a difference, he is innocent as a matter of law UNTIL proven Guilty, when the charges were dismissed his innocence was affirmed.
Arizona: You are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. He don't need to prove innocence, the government has to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. A not guilty verdict showed lack of evidence, but the dismissal of the charges as Cynic stated, the innocence was affirmed.
What if the son threw all the evidence to his 77 year old father from day one so nothing could be found on him? or it's just the father's choice to protect his own son and take the blame. I just don't see an old man with that much energy to scheme such thing for what he's being accused for.
Don't you think the prosecutors thought of that too? Let me ask you, Bernie Madoff is 74 years old... do you see him without the stamina to pull a stunt like that?
If you go to another country.....mexico....middle east..etc. I can guarentee you this much...no one will see you outside a courtroom, smiling with any attorney.....matter of fact, they'll pobably never see you again....If the guy is truely innocent Im happy for him, if not, beleive me he will be monitered for a LONG TIME.
New Reality: Are you suggesting that we follow suit like the countries you mentioned? Wow... Everyday I am more convinced that the terrorists won the war. It does not matter what we do to them, this is as far as the US as we can be, punishing the innocent, trying to deport him without having committed a crime... we're becoming the opposite of what we fought for during 237 years...
Looks like the turd applied pressure.
Which 'turd'? You couldn't mean anyone in the Federal government, since they're the ones who prosecuted him.