HOMESCHOOLER OR FUTURE TERRORIST?
No, not Anthony this time.
Adam Yahiye Gadahn was 17 years old when he walked into the Islamic Society of Orange County and asked for permission to worship there. The farm kid who grew up in a home with Christian roots declared himself a Muslim, ready to immerse himself in his new religion.
But his devotion eventually spiraled into trouble – and an arrest.
Gadahn, who was named Wednesday as one of seven suspected al-Qaida operatives sought by the FBI, was later expelled from the mosque after attacking an employee. Records show he pleaded guilty to assault and battery charges on June 11, 1997, and was sentenced to two days in jail and 40 hours of community service.
…Adam Gadahn was home-schooled at the family farm in Riverside County. He did not attend college. Omar said the family was a “more or less Christian household, but no one was particularly religious.”
Tipster Brian Sassaman wonders what Dan Rather will say.
2 Responses to “HOMESCHOOLER OR FUTURE TERRORIST?”
 Comment by Brian Sassaman May 26th, 2004 at 9:50 pm |
And here is Adam’s own story. It is widely circulated on “Conversion to Islam Stories” websites: Adam Yahiye Gadahn writes in 1995: “The turning point, perhaps, was when I moved in with my grandparents here in Santa Ana, the county seat of Orange, California. My grandmother, a computer whiz, is hooked up to America Online and I have been scooting the information superhighway since January. But when I moved in, with the intent of finding a job (easier said than done), I begin to visit the religion folders on AOL and the Usenet newsgroups, where I found discussions on Islam to be the most intriguing.” So maybe the internet is to blame too. Actually, he is a very good writer. |
 Comment by justin @ RSR May 27th, 2004 at 10:44 am |
I’ve done some original resarch on this guy… really into heavy metal… family were goat farmers… extreme Christian radio drove him to Islam |