Osama Bin Laden Son-In-Law Sentenced To Life In US Prison

A federal judge in Manhattan on Tuesday sentenced former al-Qaida spokesman Suleiman abu Ghaith to life in prison after the Osama bin Laden son-in-law said he would not live "on his knees" in a defiant and threatening speech.

Abu Ghaith, who sat beside bin Laden in a notorious cave-side video made on Sept. 12, 2001, and was convicted this year of conspiracy to kill Americans, cited the Quran repeatedly as he spoke to U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan.

"At the same moment when you are shackling my hands . . . you are at the same time unleashing the hands of hundreds of Muslim youths and removing the dust from their minds," he said.

"Soon and very soon the whole world will see the end of these theater plays that are known as trials," abu Ghaith added. "Your honor and your government can decree whatever you wish to decree . . . Nothing will befall us except what Allah has ordered."

Although abu Ghaith was not convicted of planning or participating in Sept. 11 or any other specific attack, prosecutors said he was just as dangerous because he used his fiery rhetorical skills to recruit fighters in al-Qaida videos.

Kaplan rejected defense arguments that abu Ghaith should get only 15 years because he did nothing more than give speeches, saying he was a "zealous advocate" for al-Qaida and was seen on videos with bin Laden laughing about the success of Sept. 11.

"You have evidenced no remorse whatsoever," Kaplan said. "You used your talents to recruit fighters to kill Americans, women, children, innocent people. You haven't evidenced any doubt about the justification for what was done, and as of 15 minutes ago you continue to threaten."

CULLED.