Studying Koranic Arabic

"In Toronto, when I knew these guys they were hard-working, studious, good to their mothers."
"I probably should have called, but he wasn't saying he wanted to do anything in Canada. I was like, out of sight out of mind. In hindsight I probably should have reported him."
Mohamed Hersi, Toronto

"Indeed, the physical fitness of the mujahid, his ability to run long distances, carry heavy loads and exert a lot of bodily effort for extended periods of time is the primary factor that determines his usefulness on the battlefield."
A Mujahadeen's Fitness Training; Sheikh Usuf Al-Uyayri, Saudi Arabia

Star.fm.Kenya

On trial on charges of attempting to join Al-Shabab, Torontonian Mohamed Hersi underwent questioning in court in a trial soon set to wind up. On the witness stand, the Crown was given the opportunity to question him. As a former trained security guard he was asked to explain why despite his training in response to security threats he had failed to report alarmingly suspicious statements an undercover police officer made, in an attempt to draw out his intentions as a budding jihadist.

He had acknowledged a friendship with a former high school classmate, Mohamed Elmi Ibrahim, whose family he had visited for the purpose of paying his respects on the news that the young man had been killed in Mogadishu after travelling there to join Al-Shabab. He claimed his interest was simply that of nostalgia for a childhood friend, in respect of his memory, and why not?

As for knowing "Casanyo" Abdurahman from Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute and the mosque they both attended, he had accepted a 'friend' request on Facebook from him even though he more than suspected his old friend was now located at an Al-Shabab camp. Despite which he hadn't communicated with them since they left Toronto for Somalia, and had no interest whatever in following their footsteps.

As the first person to be charged with attempting to leave Canada for the purpose of becoming part of jihad in joining a terrorist group the 28-year-old's charges and testimony represents a template case in the RCMP's attempt to intervene when Canadian youth seek to join their futures with fanatical Islamism. He is charged secondarily with counselling an undercover Toronto police officer in the joys of terrorist activity, urging him to join Al-Shabab to attain full satisfaction in life as a jihadist.

These are allegations which he has strenuously denied as having any relevance to his life, his attitude, his values and his actual actions. He had set out to leave Canada not to join a terrorist group but to travel to Cairo to further his Arabic studies, wishing as any good Muslim should, to attain fluency in the language in which the holy Koran is written.

As for the undercover police officer; he had himself confided he was on his way to Somalia for the direct purpose of joining Al-Shabab. Despite which Mr. Hersi never saw fit to break off their relationship or to turn him in to authorities. Rather, he proffered advice on how to travel to Somalia and to secure guns; how much money he would need to take along, and how to avoid actions that might arouse official suspicion.

As well, he recommended an article by Al-Qaeda ideologue Anwar Awlaki. Along with these sterling recommendations and suggestions was one where he thought his friend might afterward think to return to Canada to "take care of" anyone who insulted the Prophet Mohammed. "Don't be scared", Mr. Hersi encouraged the undercover agent.

Not at all; Mr. Hersi corrected the Crown, he had, in reality given due warning to the undercover agent four or five times, telling him to forget his plans of travelling to Somalia, much less to join Al-Shabab. But he realized his friend was stubbornly intent on proceeding with his intentions, so he offered him tips to help him avoid being detected.

Crown lawyer Iona Jaffe reminded the accused that he had recommended that the undercover officer read the writing of Saudi Sheikh Yusuf Al-Uyayri encouraging Muslims to acquire greater physical fitness as "an essential asset to the mujahid, especially in the case of street-fighting". No, he was not himself preparing to join Al-Shabab and for that purpose getting in shape; his exercise regimen's purpose was "for my own personal health and well-being", the book in question simply incidental.

"I flip-flopped from different plans", he explained. The book written by Sheik Al-Uyayri related not only to fitness but contained as well a section on philosophy and prayers. "The book", he said solemnly, "had multiple aspects".

Cool Dude.