Militant Islam Monitor > Satire > Parents Of Jihadi Wannabe Mahin Khan Ask "Fellow Citizens For Understanding" Blame Son'sTerror Plots On "Autism"
Parents Of Jihadi Wannabe Mahin Khan Ask "Fellow Citizens For Understanding" Blame Son'sTerror Plots On "Autism"
"We Believe That He Does Not Pose Any Threat To Society" "We Are Going Through Trauma"
October 13, 2016
Parents of Tucson Terrorism Suspect Mahin Khan Release Statement Ask For Understanding
The parents of Tucson terrorism suspect Mahin Khan have released a statement about their son and his case.
They say in the letter, released to the media and confirmed by News 4, that their son's mental health issues have left him with the mental age of no older than 13, with "limited ability to function on his own."
"We appeal to our fellow citizens for understanding, and ask that our son not be stigmatized due to his mental illness," the statement said.
Khan, 18, was arrested July 1 on suspicion of conspiring to launch acts of terrorism against several Arizona locations, including the Tucson Jewish Community Center, a military recruitment office and Raytheon Missile Systems.
The full statement:
We regret to share the events that have led to our son, Mahin Khan's, recent situation with law enforcement.
Since early childhood, Mahin has suffered with mental health issues including cognitive disorder and developmental delays, namely autism. His struggles with these conditions have been well documented throughout the years. Three years ago, Mahin went through an extensive inpatient psychiatric evaluation under the directive and supervision of the FBI. The evaluation documented the extent and severity of his mental health.
We have been fully cooperating with the FBI over the last three years to ensure that our son gets the help he needs. Mahin has gone through psychotherapy the past few years. Although he is now 18 years old, Mahin's mental age according to mental health professionals is less than 13. He has limited ability to function on his own. We believe that he does not pose any real threat to society. He simply does not have the mental capacity to carry out the horrendous acts he is being accused of planning.
We hope that no parents with a child with autism or mental illness should ever have to experience what we are going through. We strongly feel that the criminalization of individuals with mental illness is one of the most significant challenges in our punitive criminal justice system and Mahin undoubtedly falls into this category.
We appeal to our fellow citizens for understanding, and ask that our son not be stigmatized due to his mental illness. We are going through trauma as a result of the current situation. We ask for the privacy as this case moves forward in the court system. We appreciate the support from the community and those well aware of the situation.
Mr. & Mrs. Khan
JTA - An Arizona man has pleaded guilty to plotting an attack on government buildings and the Tucson Jewish Community Center.
Mahin Khan, 18, pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of terrorism, conspiracy to commit terrorism and conspiracy to commit misconduct involving weapons in Maricopa County Superior Court, according to reports.
Khan reportedly struck a plea bargain with the Arizona Attorney General's Office under which he will serve a prison term of at least five years and no more than 10 years and three months, as opposed to the life sentence that he could have received. He will be sentenced on November 4.
Kahn was arrested in his parents' home on July 1 and has been held in prison without bail for fear he would flee to Syria or Pakistan. He pleaded not guilty at the time.
His parents have said that Kahn is autistic and not capable of carrying out the terror attacks he had planned.
The FBI told the court that Khan had described himself in an email as an "American jihadist" who supports the Islamic State. In contact with undercover FBI agents, Kahn said he wanted to carry out "lone jihadist" attacks that would kill hundreds of people in Arizona.
In addition to targeting the Tucson JCC, a Motor Vehicles office in Mesa and an Air Force recruitment center in Tucson were in his sites. Khan revealed his desire to attack the JCC during a 2015 discussion with an undercover FBI employee.
Khan lived with his family in a gated community in north Tucson. He had threatened to kill his parents if they discovered his scheme and tried to turn him in.
http://www.israelnationalnews.See: The Myth Of Muslim Mental Illness - Islam Produces Sociopaths And Necrophiliacs - Al Takfir Wal Hijra http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/7360
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