Not Betting on a Fair Trial
If this case doesn't scream "profiling," no case does.
A university student from Egypt was ordered held without bond after prosecutors said they found a pilot's uniform, chart of Memphis International Airport and a DVD titled "How an Airline Captain Should Look and Act" in his apartment. The FBI is investigating whether Mahmoud Maawad, 29, had any connection to terrorists. He is awaiting trial on charges of wire fraud and fraudulent use of a Social Security number. Maawad, who is in the United States illegally, told the judge during a hearing Thursday that he is studying science and economics at the University of Memphis.Just Inside the Beltway in no way wants to assume Mr. Maawad is guilty before he is given a trial, but we're not betting on the fact that this trial is going to be very fair. In fact, we're predicting it will go something like this:
PROSECUTOR: For the record, please state your name and country of origin.Full story from the Washington Post.[Read Story]
DEFENDANT: My name is Mahmoud Maawad, and I am from Egypt.
PROSECUTOR: The Prosecution rests, your honor.
JUDGE: Guilty. Next case.
posted by French for a While @ 9/19/2005
2 comments
2 Comments:
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I live in Memphis and our local paper had more detail than the article you cited; apparently Mr Maawad's room was completely devoid of anything but the items you mentioned, plus a Koran, a bed, a desk, a computer and a detailed map of the Memphis International Airport. He is using a false SSN, is here on an expired visa, and used an invalid credit card to pay for his purchases. I don't like to pre-judge anyone either, but I sure am glad they have detained this gentleman until they can investigate further.
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