NEW YORK, 26 June 2004 — New York defense lawyer Lynne Stewart this week is in the unique position of having to defend herself in a federal court — for defending her client, Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman. Or rather, allegedly having broken the law while defending him.
Stewart is charged with materially aiding terrorists in Egypt and lying to the US government.
Stewart’s two codefendants, Mohammed Yousry, a translator, and Ahmed Abdel Sattar, a friend of Abdel Rahman’s, also face charges of terrorist conspiracy. All three are accused by the defense of creating an illegal channel of communication out of a Rochester, Minnesota, prison cell that allowed Stewart’s client, Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, to pass instructions to his supporters.
According to the prosecution, Stewart agreed several times in writing to restrictions imposed on Abdul Rahman, these restrictions limited him from contact with anyone except his closest family members and lawyers.
Prosecutor Christopher Morvillo told the judge and jury at the Federal District Court in Manhattan that the defendants “helped Abdul Rahman break out of jail to inspire his terrorist group to return to terrorism.”
“His words and speeches were as dangerous as weapons,” Morvillo said at the opening of a trial that is expected to last into autumn.
According to Morvillo, Stewart made noise or faked conversation so Abdul Rahman’s translator, Yousry, could discuss political strategy in Arabic.
The government’s case against Stewart, Yousry and Abdel Sattar is based on transcripts of wiretaps during Stewart’s prison visits with her client, conducted by the FBI under a court order.
Stewart, 64, is the first defense lawyer in a terrorism case to face federal charges of conspiring to support terrorism. Barred by a judge to defend herself in the courtroom, Stewart’s attorney, Michael Tigar, has tried to poke holes in the government’s case. He told the jury that Stewart did nothing more than do her best to defend the sheikh.
