Court Case

US v. Al Timimi, Ali

September 2004 (Updated August 18, 2020)
Alexandria, VA
Taliban; Lashkar-e-Taiba

[EDVA] Ali Al Timimi was the spiritual leader of the "Virginia Paintball Jihad" network. In April 2005, he was convicted of inciting terrorist activity and sentenced to life in prison. A judge ordered Al Timimi to be released from custody in August 2020 while he pursues his appeal in part because he is susceptible to the coronavirus and in part because of a recent Supreme Court case that could invalidate several counts on which he was originally convicted.

Case Updates

2020-08-18 | Islamic Scholar Ordered Released While Appeal is Pursued

A judge on Tuesday ordered an Islamic scholar serving a life sentence for soliciting treason after the Sept. 11 attacks be released from custody while he pursues his appeal.

2019-06-25 | Islamic Scholar's Terror Convictions Reviewed in Virginia

A judge is considering tossing out parts of a 10-count conviction against an Islamic scholar serving life in prison for persuading some of his followers to travel overseas after the Sept. 11 attacks and try to join the Taliban. The review in the case of Ali Al-Timimi of Fairfax comes after the Supreme Court on June 25, 2019, struck down part of a federal law regulating crimes of violence as unconstitutionally vague. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema issued a show cause order giving prosecutors 30 days to explain why she shouldn't overturn three of the 10 counts on which Al-Timimi was convicted at his 2005 trial.

Case Documents