(AKI) - Five men described as devout Muslims possessed extremist material advocating violent jihad and showing images of ritual beheadings, an Australian court was told on Tuesday. The men are accused of conspiring with others to prepare a terrorist act. Crown prosecutor Richard Maidment, said they had allegedly obtained explosives and firearms.According to The Sydney Morning Herald daily Maidment said the men possessed material "which supported indiscriminate killing, mass murder and martyrdom in the pursuit of violent jihad."
But the jury members have been told they must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that all five agreed to the preparation of a violent act motivated by religion, politics or ideology and aimed to intimidate or coerce governments or the public. "This is a circumstantial case," Supreme Court Justice Anthony Whealy told the jury.
The government's prosecutor alleged the material found in the homes of the accused - Mohamed Elomar, Abdul Rhakib Hassan, Khaled Cheikho, Mostafa Cheikho and Mohammed Omar Jamal - showed they believed Islam was under attack and violent jihad was their religious obligation. The men, all Muslims, have pleaded not guilty.
The trial started in Sydney on Tuesday and is expected to run for nine months. "The Muslim religion is not on trial here," stressed Justice Whealy. "We Australians are very fortunate because we live in a very tolerant and open-minded society."
He instructed the jury to judge the case impartially and only on the evidence presented.