Accused Sept. 11 Mastermind Rejects Lawyers, Accepts Death Penalty
The alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks told a court at his arraignment today that he welcomes the death penalty because it will allow him to be a martyr.
Khalid Sheik Mohammed spoke in response to a warning that he faces the death penalty for confessing his role in the attacks, the Associated Press reports. He wore thick glasses, a turban and looked much thinner than in a photo taken at the time of his arrest.
“Yes, this is what I wish, to be a martyr for a long time,” Mohammed said. “I will, God willing, have this, by you.”
Mohammed also sang verses from the Quran and said he wants to represent himself at trial. He said he can’t be represented by lawyers who are governed by law instead of “the Lord of the law,” Bloomberg reports.
He told the judge in broken English that he should be allowed to cite the Quran, but he recognizes some subjects are off-limits. “I can’t mention about the torturing,” Mohammed said. “I know this is the red line.” Mohammad has rejected a translator. The government has acknowledged Mohammed was subjected to waterboarding.
Marine Col. Ralph Kohlmann, the judge who is presiding over the case, rejected arguments by civilian defense lawyers that they did not have time to meet with Mohammed and four other accused Sept. 11 conspirators before their arraignment today. When lawyers persisted in arguing the point, Kohlmann ordered them to sit down, the Bloomberg story says.
