Iraq War Veteran Arrested for “Secret” Conversion to Islam & Desire for Hijjrah

A criminal complaint against Craig Benedict Baxam a 24 year old Iraq War veteran of Laurel, Maryland was filed 10 January, accusing him of attempting to provide “material support” to a “designated terrorist organisation” Baxam was arrested on 6 January Friday, 2012, upon his return to Maryland after having travelled abroad on holiday to Africa.

According to the affidavit supporting the complaint, Baxam joined the U.S. Army in 2007 and completed eight months of advanced training for cryptology and intelligence. Baxam was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq and upon completion of his deployment, he reenlisted. In August 2010, he deployed for a one year assignment in Korea. One month prior to completion of his deployment in Korea, Baxam separated from the Army and returned to Maryland in July 2011.

The affidavit alleges that Baxam “secretly converted” to Islam days before he separated from the Army, after finding an Islamic religious website on the Internet. Baxam allegedly decided to relocate to Somalia to join al-Shabaab and live under Sharia law. The implication being that his crime, in part  is his alleged desire to live in Somalia under the governance of Sharia.

Al-Shabaab is a remnant of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which came to power in 2006 and was the first government in Somalia to bring peace and stability to the war-torn country in over a decade.

The ICU was subsequently dismantled in an illegal act of aggression and affront to Somalian sovereignty by the US backed Ethiopian invasion in 2007. Over the years, a series of weak Somali administrations have been recognized by the United States and other powers as Somalia’s “legitimate government”. Ironically, its current president is a former leader of the ICU who was previously forcibly removed from governance by the invasion.

In February 2008, the U.S. Department of State designated al-Shabaab, also know as Harakat Shabaab al-Mujahidin, as a foreign terrorist organisation, stating: ‘al-Shabaab has committed or poses a significant risk of committing acts of terrorism that threaten the security of the United States.’

The designation of al-Shabaab came primarily due to its ongoing involvement in an insurgency against foreign occupation by Burundian, Ugandan, Kenyan and US agents, as well as its successful efforts at maintaining a parallel and functioning government in opposition to the US backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG), despite efforts by foreign powers at destabilising the region.

The complaint was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Lisa O. Monaco, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; and Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The crime for which Baxtam has been arrested seems predicated upon the US governments preternatural ability at ascertaining the otherwise concealed intentions or thoughts of an individual , as U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein states:

‘The complaint alleges that Craig Baxam intended to travel to Somalia and join the terrorist organization al-Shabaab …’

Special Agent Richard A. McFeely commented upon the US government’s border-less war on anyone and everyone with whom they disagree and the active deployment of US domestic investigative agents abroad in his statement regarding the “capture” of Craig Baxam in Kenya:

‘This arrest is highly illustrative of the progress the international law enforcement community has made in working together to rapidly share resources and information in order to stop terrorism, FBI special agents in Africa, working alongside our Kenyan police partners, worked together to stop an individual who is now alleged to have been on his way to join a major terrorist group. This spirit of cooperation in fighting terrorism continues to transcend borders around the world.’

While it seems fair and fitting for the United States to dream of extending its rule of law around the world, be it in far off lands away from its shores, it is not deemed suitable however for a Muslim like Baxam to want to live outside of that sphere of influence or under the law dictated in his faith. As was made all too clear by a US federal employee in the affidavit filed earlier Monday, FBI Special Agent John B. Phillips III said Baxam considered it his duty to undertake his hijjrah, or migration to a Muslim land. The way Baxam saw it, according to Phillips, this meant just a few options: the Taliban-controlled areas of Afghanistan, a few islands in the Philippines or southern Somalia.

And while the complaint repeatedly stresses that Baxam wished to go live in Somalia, under the legislation found in his religious scripture it has not produced any evidence of, nor linked him to any act of violence, plot or intention of violence, only the desire to live among fellow Muslims and under the law of Allah.

The government complaint alleges that Baxam utilised his retirement savings of approximately $3,600 and purchased a plane ticket to Kenya. He set out to travel to Somalia, via Kenya, with between $600 and $700, which according to the government complaint; he planned to give to al-Shabaab as an offering shortly after he crossed into Somalia.

On 20 December, 2011, Baxam flew from Baltimore-Washington International Airport and arrived in Nairobi, Kenya on 22 December. After praying his Fajr in a local masjid, he set out on a series of bus and taxi rides in an effort to travel “as far north as possible.” He took a bus to Mombassa, Kenya, and hired taxis to travel through Kenya on to Somalia.

On 23 December, 2011, when a man on a bus travelling near Mombasa, Kenya began asking questions  ’Where are you going?, Do you speak the local language? Do you have family here?’ Baxam opened up. The inquisitive man then left the bus. It was soon stopped by Kenyan police, who took Baxam into custody and arrested him for attempting to travel to Somalia to join al-Shabaab. Baxam now believes the man was an informant, according to Phillips. Baxam was held at Kenyan Anti-Terrorism Police Unit in Nairobi and interviewed by the FBI.

If found guilty of travelling to Africa on holiday, Baxam faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. His initial appearance was be held at 3:00 p.m. 10 January in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt.

During which Baxam sat mostly quietly through on Monday in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt. Wearing a long white robe, a thick black beard and sandals, he spoke only to affirm that he understood the charge against him, that it carries a maximum sentence of 15 years and that he has the rights to remain silent and to be represented by counsel, answering each time with a simple ‘yes.’

In court on Monday, Baxam’s attorney objected to court papers that accused Baxam of engaging in terrorist activity. Baxam is charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to al-Shabaab. ‘My concern, your honor, is that this case not be blown out of proportion‘ attorney John Chamble told Magistrate Judge William Connelly.

Judge Connelly ordered Baxam held until a bail hearing, today, Wednesday 11 January, Baxam’s court-appointed attorney declined to comment after the brief appearance, as did two women who appeared to be family members.

To date it seems that the governments allegation are based solely upon the precognitive abilities of federal employees in lieu of any actual statements of intent, or any tangible evidence of an actual crime having been committed. At present it appears that Craig Baxter is a political prisoner guilty of thoughts he is alleged to have had, and not for any actual threats, or acts of violence.

The mention in the complaint of his “secret conversion” to Islam, his desire to perform hijjrah, a religious obligation, and one which does not constitute any acts of violence against any individuals or states, are all indicative of the growing concept of the increasingly fascist US government of the criminalisation of exercising one’s choice of religion, particularly Islam, when that religion is not in accordance with the views or wishes of the US government.

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