Jahmaal James
Encyclopedia
Jahmaal James is one of 17 people detained on June 2 and June 3, 2006, in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
in the 2006 Toronto terrorism arrests. He and the others arrested are alleged to have plotted coordinated bombing attacks against targets in southern Ontario.
resident, the 23-year old James was living with his parents. He approached Imam
Aly Hindy
for advice on how to find a proper Muslim woman to marry, and was advised to travel to Pakistan
to find a wife.
In March 2005, Americans Ehsanul Sadequee
and Syed Haris Ahmed traveled to Toronto
together aboard a Greyhound
bus, to meet with Fahim Ahmad
, James and another youth, who they had spoken to online about their mutual interpretations about Islam and jihad. While the group discussed hypothetical scenarios in which North America was attacked, the government noted there was "no imminent danger". Police informant Mubin Shaikh
later stated that he believed the two Americans had been asking whether they would be able to hide in Canada if they were to carry out attacks in the United States.
In November 2005, he flew to Lahore, Pakistan, where he married Sima James in an arranged marriage
. He was unable to immediately obtain the Canadian visa necessary to bring her back to Canada.
Prosecutors allege that he trained with Lashkar-e-Tayyiba during this time, though Sima insists that the couple rarely left their apartment, only three times during four months - twice to visit the doctor and once to extend his visa.
After he returned to Canada on March 26 due to his failing health, he continued to phone Sima every day and carried on the relationship despite the distance.
James apparently severed ties with the group after returning to Canada, disagreeing with their tactics.
As a result of preferred direct indictment by the Crown Attorney on 2007-09-24, James additionally charged with unlawfully receiving training in Pakistan and knowingly participating in a terrorist group.
He is one of the suspects that Canadian Security Intelligence Service
(CSIS) mole Mubin Shaikh
has publicly stated should not have been arrested.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in the 2006 Toronto terrorism arrests. He and the others arrested are alleged to have plotted coordinated bombing attacks against targets in southern Ontario.
Life
A ScarboroughScarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
resident, the 23-year old James was living with his parents. He approached Imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
Aly Hindy
Aly Hindy
Aly Hindy is the current Imam of the Salaheddin Islamic Centre in Scarborough, Canada, notable for his alleged connections to militant and fundamentalist elements, as well as his defence of Canadians accused of terrorism....
for advice on how to find a proper Muslim woman to marry, and was advised to travel to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
to find a wife.
In March 2005, Americans Ehsanul Sadequee
Ehsanul Sadequee
Born in Fairfax, Virginia on July 30, 1986, Ehsanul "Shifa" Sadequee is an American who was arrested by the FBI on four terrorism charges, convicted, and sentenced to 17 years in prison, to be followed by 30 years of supervised release.-Life:...
and Syed Haris Ahmed traveled to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
together aboard a Greyhound
Greyhound
The Greyhound is a breed of sighthound that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, and the breed has also recently seen a resurgence in its popularity as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed...
bus, to meet with Fahim Ahmad
Fahim Ahmad
Fahim Ahmad is one of people convicted in the 2006 Toronto terrorism case. He was a ringleader in the group. He was 21 years old at the time of arrest, and married with two children.-Life:...
, James and another youth, who they had spoken to online about their mutual interpretations about Islam and jihad. While the group discussed hypothetical scenarios in which North America was attacked, the government noted there was "no imminent danger". Police informant Mubin Shaikh
Mubin Shaikh
Mubin Shaikh was one of two informants for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service in the 2006 Toronto Terrorism case, and moved on to become a paid Royal Canadian Mounted Police agent...
later stated that he believed the two Americans had been asking whether they would be able to hide in Canada if they were to carry out attacks in the United States.
In November 2005, he flew to Lahore, Pakistan, where he married Sima James in an arranged marriage
Arranged marriage
An arranged marriage is a practice in which someone other than the couple getting married makes the selection of the persons to be wed, meanwhile curtailing or avoiding the process of courtship. Such marriages had deep roots in royal and aristocratic families around the world...
. He was unable to immediately obtain the Canadian visa necessary to bring her back to Canada.
Prosecutors allege that he trained with Lashkar-e-Tayyiba during this time, though Sima insists that the couple rarely left their apartment, only three times during four months - twice to visit the doctor and once to extend his visa.
After he returned to Canada on March 26 due to his failing health, he continued to phone Sima every day and carried on the relationship despite the distance.
James apparently severed ties with the group after returning to Canada, disagreeing with their tactics.
Arrest
His father was initially also detained, but immediately released. James is represented by attorney Donald McLeod.As a result of preferred direct indictment by the Crown Attorney on 2007-09-24, James additionally charged with unlawfully receiving training in Pakistan and knowingly participating in a terrorist group.
He is one of the suspects that Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service is Canada's national intelligence service. It is responsible for collecting, analyzing, reporting and disseminating intelligence on threats to Canada's national security, and conducting operations, covert and overt, within Canada and abroad.Its...
(CSIS) mole Mubin Shaikh
Mubin Shaikh
Mubin Shaikh was one of two informants for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service in the 2006 Toronto Terrorism case, and moved on to become a paid Royal Canadian Mounted Police agent...
has publicly stated should not have been arrested.