Judge ponders if Alberta man should be extradited to face U.S. terrorism charges

EDMONTON – The case of an Alberta man facing extradition to the United States on terrorism charges is now in the hands of a judge.

Sayfildin Tahir Sharif (SAY’-fill-din TA’-here SHAW’-reef) is accused of conspiracy and supporting a terrorist group that took part in a 2009 suicide bombing in Iraq that killed five U.S. soldiers.

His lawyer Bob Aloneissi (ah-loh-NEE’-see) argued in final submissions that there is no clear evidence that Sharif helped support a terrorist group or that he agreed to help kill anyone.

The Crown says evidence from intercepted Internet and phone conversations shows Sharif was directly involved in supporting Tunisian terrorists who conducted the suicide bombing.

Sharif, who was born in Iraq but moved to Toronto as a refugee in 1993 and became a Canadian citizen, has also gone by other names, including Faruq (fah-REWK’) Muhammad’Isa.

Justice Adam Germain of Edmonton Court of Queen’s Bench has reserved his ruling until Friday.