As his relatives sobbed, convicted terrorist Misbahuddin Ahmed apologized Wednesday for his crimes, saying he “cherished” being Canadian and the freedoms that Canadians enjoy.
“I am sorry for the hurt my actions have caused my family, my community and my fellow Canadians,” said Ahmed, his voice shaking with emotion. “I am humbled by the support I have received.”
The 31-year-old father of three young daughters said he had abandoned his extremist views and told his sentencing hearing: “It is not who I am. I will never do anything like this again.”
Crown prosecutors are calling for a 20-year penitentiary sentence for Ahmed, rejecting defence claims that the former Ottawa Hospital worker was less of a terrorist and more of a naïve dupe.
Ahmed’s lawyer, Mark Ertel, had earlier asked for a total eight- to 10-year sentence, minus the normal credit for times served both in jail and while under house arrest.
“We disagree with everything (Ertel) has said, except that we are miles apart,” lead prosecutor Jason Wakely told Ontario Superior Court Justice Colin McKinnon.
“Mr. Ahmed was committed to violent jihad,” he said. “There is no evidence that his extremists beliefs have been attenuated or extinguished.”
A jury convicted Ahmed, a former diagnostic imaging technician, of two terrorist-related offences — conspiracy to commit a terrorist offence and participating in the activities of a terrorist group.
He was acquitted of the most serious of the charges against him, explosive device possession.
Although Canada has had relatively few terrorism cases pass through its courts, Ertel said those who had been sentenced in the 20-year range had committed more serious crimes than Ahmed.
They include Mohammad Momin Khawaja, now 35, who was the first Canadian charged and convicted under the post-9/11 Anti-Terrorism Act — and members of the Toronto 18, whom authorities arrested eight years ago, thwarting their plans to create an organized terrorist cell in Toronto and to unleash a bombing campaign.
One of Ahmed’s co-conspirators, Hiva Mohammad Alizadeh, was sentenced to 24 years in prison by McKinnon last month after pleading guilty to a series of charges.
A third accused, Khurram Sher, was acquitted in a separate trial.
The length of Ahmed’s sentence should be measured against Alizadeh, the most radicalized of the men, said Wakely.
“Mr. Ahmed knew that Mr. Alizadeh was fanatical and knew he was dangerous,” said the prosecutor. “He knew he was planning to carry out attacks in Canada and had the means to do so.”
Despite this, he chose to join Alizadeh’s conspiracy, added Wakely.
“He wasn’t a passive participant,” he said. “He wasn’t a hanger-on.”
Alizadeh showed remorse and admitted his crimes, he added, but Ahmed has shown no remorse and, according to a pre-sentencing report order by the court, still denies he has committed any crime.
“Sixteen to 20 years less than Alizadeh is simply untenable,” he said. “He supported a man he knew was planning attacks. They didn’t have a target, but they did have a plan.”
Wakely rejected Ertel’s submission that Ahmed is surrounded by a peaceful, supportive family and is a low risk of re-offending.
He also urged McKinnon to give little weight to the 75 letters of support Ahmed has received ahead of his sentencing.
“No doubt he was a good family member and friend,” said Wakely. “But there were two sides to Mr. Ahmed — the side depicted in the letters and the jihadist side he kept hidden.”
“It is truly regrettable that they (his wife and children) will have to be separated for a number of years,” said Wakely, “but Mr. Ahmed is the author of that misfortune.”
What might have happened if the conspiracy had gone undetected? he asked.
“The people who would have been killed by Mr. Ahmed and Mr. Alizadeh have children, too,” he said. “They have families, too. Don’t lose sight of that.”
Ertel countered that it was “plain wrong” and contrary to the evidence that Ahmed deserved a sentence close to Alizadeh’s.
“Mr. Alizadeh’s level of culpability was far higher,” he said.
McKinnon will sentence Ahmed on Oct. 23.
