Struggling to Understand Islamist Jihad

"A psychiatrist appointed by the court would ... be able to tell you whether these are all the behavioural manifestations of a religious zealot or whether there is an aspect to Mr. Esseghaier that falls under the Mental Health Act."
"This is all about fairness."
Russell Silverstein, lawyer

"[Esseghaier's conduct in court was unusual, but always] understandable and consistent [driven by] his strong religious beliefs."
"I do not think that strong religious beliefs, even extreme ones, can be equated with a mental disorder."
Justice Michael Code

"[He would accept the examination because] the doctors who work in the hospital [are] human beings [deserving to be exposed to] the message of the true."
"You have to change very quick. Because the end of the world comes very near."
Chiheb Esseghaier, Islamist terrorist

Chris Young / THE CANADIAN PRESS   Chiheb Esseghaier.

 

Tried and convicted on the charges related to conspiracy to commit terrorist acts in Canada along with his accomplice Raed Jaser, the former PhD student has exhibited behaviour that is compellingly unusual by Canadian standards of private and public behaviour. In the interests of compassionate understanding of the possibility of mental health issues that might mitigate his sentencing yet to be declared, it was decided that he undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

The Western mind finds it difficult to comprehend the utter conviction of a pathological hater. Someone committed to Islamism and jihad, prepared to cause the death of countless people in service to Islam, a religion that has in its sacred writings excoriating opinions about non-Muslims, particularly Jews and Christians, but all infidels as well. Bearing in mind that these sentiments were expressed by a man who considered himself a harbinger of the only true god's message.

The Prophet Mohammad convinced himself that when Jews and Christians understood that his new religion, Islam, which helped itself generously to the tenets of the more ancient religions of Judeo-Christianity and appropriated many of their prophets and other figures of sacramental note, they would abandon their outdated religions and gratefully surrender to the final successor of those two unfinalized religions, precursors to Islam.

His rage when conversion to Islam by Jews and Christians did not eventuate was incendiary enough to convince him that prosetylization would be better accomplished by the sword, and slaughter ensued. His modern followers feel that what was good enough for Mohammad is certainly good enough for them, and they take pride in emulating him; crucifixions and beheadings and mass slaughter reflect the successes of the past.

Chiheb Esseghaier, a Tunisian by birth, is a fully-fledged Islamist who is fully invested in the purity of Islam's beginnings. Massacres, assassinations and attacks against non-Muslims and democratic institutions are a requirement for the faithful in fulfilling their dutiful obligations to Islam in memory of the Prophet's vision of a universal caliphate. His obsession is shared by countless other Muslims. Their pathology of hate and dedication to terror speaks to their core values.

He was not of unsound mind when he was accepted for study in Montreal to achieve his doctorate in medical engineering. And indeed that academic mind was quite successful; he was capable of producing excellent medical engineering inventions. His mind is distorted and corrupted by the grapple-hold that Islam has on him and others like him. His use of the English language is not outstanding by any means and his garbled sentences do not reflect his intelligence.

He chose to refuse legal assistance in defending himself in court against all terrorism-related charges because, he explained, as a true Muslim only the Koran and Sharia law have any meaning in his life; only god-inspired law, not human-constructed law can stand in judgement of his actions. And since his actions were mandated by Sharia law in his obligation to jihad, there is no argument that he is guilty of anything other than pursuing his religious rights.

What this man espouses is precisely what the Islamic Republic of Iran officially does as well. Chiheb Esseghaier only threatened the lives of perhaps up to a hundred passengers on a Via Rail line from New York to Toronto, by plotting to destroy the integrity of a bridge the train would be passing over, so it would plunge into the abyss below, killing passengers. Thus delivering an important message to the West; convert or die.

The Republic of Iran seeks to attain nuclear weaponry to complement its advanced ballistic missiles to enable it to convince the world that it has the power of god at its beck and call. And the unworthy must die.