On September 23, 2015, Jaser and Esseghaier were sentenced to life imprisonment for their roles in a jihad terror plot to derail a passenger train that travels between New York City and Ontario. Throughout the trial proceedings, Esseghaier remained defiant, insisting that only the Qur’an, not a Canadian court, could judge him and shouting Qur’an verses at the jury. He wrote a statement to the jury explaining, “I required the Holy Qur’an as unique reference of my trial and the judgement of all matter of people’s life.” He exhorted jury members to exonerate him and convert to Islam: “I encourage you to retreat from the charge that has been affected to you as a first step of your sincere repentance to God.”

This jihad plot was a long time in preparation. According to Canadian officials, this bloodthirsty and unrepentant fanatic had gone to Iran within two years of beginning to plan the jihad plot, to which his trip was related. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner James Malizia said that Esseghaier and Jaser had been given “support from al Qaeda elements located in Iran.” These elements, he said, also gave them “direction and guidance.” According to American officials involved with the case, al-Qaeda operated out of the Iranian town of Zahedan, near the Iranian borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan, passing men and money through Iran.

But now Esseghaier says he is crazy and should therefore be let off. Given that so many instances of jihad terrorism are ascribed to mental illness today, and that Esseghaier lives in Canada, where the government is so very solicitous of Muslims, he will probably be swiftly released and maybe even given a few million dollars in compensation, a la Omar Khadr.

“‘Delusional’ Via Rail plotter now on anti-psychotics, plans appeal,” by Richard Warnica, National Post, July 26, 2017 (thanks to Blazing Cat Fur):