The first Canadian found guilty under Ottawa's anti-terror law is appealing his conviction, Canadian media said Thursday.Momin Khawaja, a 29-year-old Canadian of Pakistani origin, was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in prison last month for participating in a foiled plot to attack several sites in the United Kingdom. He is eligible for parole five years into his prison term. The plot included attacks on a nightclub, a shopping center and electrical and gas facilities.
The software developer's lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, filed a notice of appeal with Ontario's Court of Appeal, arguing that Khawaja's sentence was excessive, CBC public television reported. In his filing, Greenspon said the sentence was too harsh because the judge had indicated in his ruling that authorities were unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Khawaja was aware of the specific details of the plot planned by a British terror group, according to CBC.
During the trial, the defense had argued that Khawaja wanted to participate in jihad (holy war) in Afghanistan but had never intended to collaborate in terror attacks in Britain. Five of Khawaja's suspected accomplices were found guilty and sentenced to long prison terms in April 2007 in Britain.