Judge rules Edmonton man can be extradited to U.S. to face terrorism-related charges

A judge has granted an extradition order for an Edmonton man who faces terrorism charges in the United States for allegedly providing financial support to family members who joined ISIS.

Abdullahi Ahmed Abdullahi, 33, shouted on Thursday as he was escorted from the courtroom.

"I find that the evidence as a whole, including the Western Union money transfers, could be used by a properly instructed jury to conclude that the mental element of the offence has been proven," Court of Queen's Bench Justice John Little said in delivering his ruling, as faces fell among Abdullahi'ssupporters in the visitors gallery.

The extradition order must be approved by the federal justice minister. Abdullahi will be given the chance to make submissions and would then have 30 days to appeal before being turned over to U.S. authorities.

Abdullahi is accused of financing ISIS recruits, including three of his cousins from Edmonton.

Alleged jewelry theft to fund ISIS

U.S. authorities allege that Abdullahirobbed an Edmonton jewelry store in 2014 to help fund ISIS supporters.

Federal Crown prosecutors representing the U.S. government argued on Thursday that Abdullahi used an email account to communicate covertly with co-conspirators in Syria and North America through draft emails intended to help co-ordinate travel and financing for ISIS recruits.

In one message, Crown prosecutor Stacey Dej argued, Abdullahi admittedhe washaving trouble pawning $20,000 worth of stolen jewelry intended for their network of ISIS recruits.

Dej said fingerprint analysis identified Abdullahi's palm print found on the display counter at the jewelrystore, and said a cousin identified him in surveillance video.

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The prosecutorhighlighted three wire transfers to the United States allegedly sent by Abdullahi to facilitate travel of ISIS recruits.

Fiveof those recruits died in Syria in 2014. Four were Abdullahi's cousins, including three young men from Edmonton.

Prosecutors said the emails showed Abdullahi also planned to travel with them, and warned another U.S. cousin travelling to Syria that many people were looking for them in Turkey.

The prosecution cited two witnesses they said could corroborate the email communication plan and identify who was sending the messages: a cousin identified in court as John Doe, and the wife of one recruit.

Abdullahi's defence lawyer questioned both the reliability of the evidence and the witnesses.

Akram Attia argued the record of the case was "deliberately vague," making itdifficult for the defence to respond.

He noted that none of the actual emails were included as evidence in the case of record, andargued there was no way to
prove when the emails were written and who had written them.

"This is double hearsay," he told court. "I know of no case where that would be allowed in this country. I don't think it would be allowed in the U.S. either."

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