El Sayyid Nosair
El Sayyid Nosair is an Egyptian-born American man who assassinated Meir Kahane in 1990 and was later convicted of involvement in the 1993 New York City landmark bomb plot. Nosair is currently serving a life sentence. Nosair was acquitted in his initial trial on murder charges for the assassination of Kahane, but in his later trial was found to have committed the murder.
In 1994, Nosair was convicted in federal court of nine counts, including seditious conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder of a U.S. Postal Inspection Service officer, use of a firearm in the commission of a murder, use of a firearm during an attempted murder, and possession of a firearm. Nosair's murder of Kahane was one of the acts in the conspiracy for which he was convicted.
Background
El Sayyid Nosair was born in 1955 in Port Said, Egypt, and immigrated to the United States in 1981. He became an American citizen in 1989. In the United States, Nosair worked various jobs in New Jersey and New York City. Nosair was employed by the City of New York to repair the air conditioning equipment at the criminal courts building.Nosair expressed dislike for American culture and what he perceived to be rampant moral corruption. Nosair became involved with the al-Farouq Mosque in Brooklyn, which was supported by the Maktab al-Khidamat. The Maktab al-Khidamat was established in 1984 by Osama bin Laden and Abdullah Azzam in Peshawar, Pakistan to raise funds for the Arab mujahadeen during the Soviet–Afghan War, and later to recruit participants in al Qaeda. Ali Mohamed, a sergeant at Fort Bragg, provided United States Army manuals and other assistance to individuals at the al-Farouq Mosque, and some members, including Mahmoud Abouhalima and Nosair, practiced at the Calverton Shooting Range on Long Island.
Assassination of Meir Kahane
In 1990, Nosair assassinated Rabbi Meir Kahane, formerly a member of the Israeli Knesset, and founder of the Jewish Defense League and Kach, which were later adjudged to be terrorist groups. Nosair shot Kahane on November 5, 1990, shortly after 9p.m., following a speech to a Jewish group at in midtown Manhattan's Marriott East Side Hotel. Nosair ran up and shot Kahane as he was answering questions following his speech. Nosair attempted to flee the scene and commandeer a taxi, but he was shot by Carlos Acosta, a police officer for the United States Postal Inspection Service. The two continued to exchange gunfire before Nosair was apprehended. Nosair and his victims were evacuated to Bellevue Hospital for treatment of their wounds, and Kahane was pronounced dead at the hospital.Trial
During legal proceedings, Nosair largely ignored the court and focused on multiple sketches he made of Princess Diana.In a verdict described by law professor Jeffrey B. Abramson as "bizarre", a jury in December 1991 acquitted Nosair of Kahane's murder but convicted him of assaulting Acosta and possessing an illegal firearm. He was defended by William Kunstler, who at first advised him to plead insanity. When Nosair refused, the defense argued that there had been a conspiracy against Nosair, and Kahane might have been killed by one of his followers. Kunstler saw the composition of the jury as crucial to the verdict.
The judge in the trial, Justice Alvin Schlesinger, said that the jury's acquittal of Nosair on the murder charge was "against the overwhelming weight of evidence and was devoid of common sense and logic". The judge added that he believed Nosair "conducted a rape of this country, of our Constitution and of our laws, and of people seeking to exist peacefully together." On January 29, 1992, he sentenced Nosair to 7 to 22 years in prison, the maximum allowed.
Kunstler also saw the verdict as irrational, promising to appeal Nosair's convictions. However, Nosair was unsuccessful in several efforts to overturn the verdict.