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Daniel Pearl's family opposes Justice decision to try KSM in federal court

By Bridget Johnson - 11/14/09 10:44 PM ET

The family of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl expressed disappointment with the Obama administration's decision to try the professed killer of their son, alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, in a civilian court.

A statement provided to The Hill late Saturday night, signed by the foundation created by Pearl's parents, Ruth and Judea Pearl, said:

"We are sorry to learn of the Justice Department decision to try KSM in a NYC Federal Court.

We are respectful of the legal process, but believe that giving confessed terrorists a worldwide platform to publicize their ideology sends the wrong message to potential terrorists, inviting them in essence, to resort to violence and cruelty in order to gain publicity.

We believe that justice is better served if the trial of KSM, the confessed murderer of Daniel Pearl, be held in closed session."

The concern about giving terrorists a P.R. platform echoes sentiments expressed by Judea Pearl in a September op-ed in the WSJ, in which he penned an open letter to Attorney General Eric Holder.

In 2007, the Pentagon released a reported confession to the 2002 slaying of Pearl, in which Mohammed reportedly said at a Guantanamo Bay hearing, "I decapitated with my blessed right hand the head of the American Jew, Daniel Pearl, in the city of Karachi, Pakistan. For those who would like to confirm, there are pictures of me on the Internet holding his head."



Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/67801-daniel-pearls-family-opposes-justice-decision-to-try-ksm-in-federal-court
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Comments (24)

Some Americans are so frightened by the posturings of criminals that they no longer recognize reality. NY's southern district court has tried and won convictions against other terrurists, other countries have tried terrurists successfully. That is why we have laws and trials and why America shouldn't torture.While I sympathize with the Pearl family, their wants don't override the decisions of the US Attorney General and the federal justice system.BY Sam on 11/15/2009 at 08:19
Sam, Check back with us when some terrorist beheads your child.BY Grace on 11/15/2009 at 09:07
play it again sam…BY lloyd carroll spruce on 11/15/2009 at 09:08
When he was captured he asked for a lawyer and to be be taken to NY. He later pleaded guilty in a military commission set up by congress. Obama stopped the proceedings. Now KSM is to be tried in the pre 9/11 failed lawfare program. President Bush got it right with the Patriot Act and President Obama knows that because he supports its extension. So it is weird to allow discovery of our intelligence methods in a conventional court and to put at unnecessary risk the citizens of NYC. He can get a fair trial in either venue, but the military tribunal is appropriate because he is a soldier of terror [***] bent on imposing their weird views on us. This is a dumb and dangerous decision, and it is not in the best national security interests of the United States. We cannot go back to a pre 9/11 mentality. It will lead to warning signs that are overlooked.BY graham on 11/15/2009 at 10:07
Bush and company have rendered as successful prosecution extremely problematical. This is the text of the 6th Amendment:In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.What possible argument is there for the delay: we needed to torture you for several years first?BY Jane on 11/15/2009 at 12:05
Vote out the person who chooses the US attorney general! Take care of his stupid decisions right there…he's not God.BY DLT on 11/15/2009 at 12:14
Sounds to me like the Pearls want to mete out the same kind of justice afforded Mr. Pearl.BY CranialRectalLoopbac on 11/15/2009 at 12:19
NY Terrorists Trial - Are You Serious? Let me get this correst - President Obama is going to bring the terrorist detainees to New York for a trial. The following are 5 effects from BY Hank Richards on 11/15/2009 at 12:26
Grace has demonstrated the hazards of naming a child before you know much about them.BY Gerard on 11/15/2009 at 12:43
So now, the Consitution of the United States is a "pre 9/11 failed lawfare program" - WOW, I wonder how we ever made it through those 200 years with such a FAILED justice system, when all suspects were entitled to the same protections. Now, in this post 9/11 world, some people advocate that each person should receive treatment according to the wishes of the victim or his family. What a pansy-assed people we've become - willing to forego everything this country supposedly stood for for over two centuries because we're scared sh-tless of what may happen if we don't become like those we perceive to be our enemies.BY judyinnm on 11/15/2009 at 14:03

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