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NEW YORK - The first person extradited by Britain to the United States on terrorism charges pleaded not guilty to supporting al Qaeda in federal court today.
Syed Hashmi, 27, an American student who was studying in London before he was extradited to New York on Friday, is accused of providing military equipment to others who then transported it to al Qaeda associates in Pakistan.
Prosecutors allege Hashmi, a Pakistani native who grew up in Queens, New York, agreed with others between January 2004 and May 2006 to provide military gear to al Qaeda to be used against US forces in Afghanistan.
Hashmi was arrested at London's Heathrow airport in June 2006 when he was about to board a plane to Pakistan. Prosecutors said he was the first individual extradited from Britain to the United States on terrorism charges.
Outside the courtroom, his lawyer, Sean Maher, said Hashmi was a devout Muslim and "peace-loving" man who was being punished by the United States for participating in political protests.
"He is not a terrorist. He is an academic," Maher said. "These charges are unfounded."
Hashmi will appear in court again on Friday when bail requests will be heard.
If convicted, he faces a maximum of 50 years in prison.
- REUTERS
