Al-Qaida sleeper agent in U.S sentenced to more than 8 years in prison

CHICAGO,Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. federal judge Thursday sentenced a convicted al-Qaida sleeper agent who admitted having contact with the alleged mastermind behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to more than eight years in prison.

According to local media reports, a two-day sentencing began Wednesday at federal court in Peoria, Illinois State, for Ali al-Marri, a former Bradley University student and a married father of five from Qatar who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization.

U.S. District Judge Michael Mihm could have sentenced al-Marrito as much as 15 years. But he handed down the lighter sentence of eight years and four months in consideration of what defense attorneys called harsh treatment during the almost six years al-Marri was held without charges in a U.S. Navy brig.

During the two-day hearing, defense attorneys noted that al-Marri was kept in extreme isolation in the naval brig, housed in a virtually windowless cell and without access to family, legal counsel or the world outside.

Between June 2003 and October 2004, al-Marri slept on a steel bed frame, had limited movements outside his cell and was permitted only the sparsest communication with security guards and government interrogators trying to pry information from him, the defense contended as it argued for leniency for the former Bradley University student

Analysts say the judge's decision could have far-reaching consequences because the United States still holds more than 200 people without charge at Guantanamo Bay. If convicted, those detainees also could argue their time in custody should be considered at sentencing.

Al-Marri, a 44-year-old Qatar native, pleaded guilty in May 2009 to conspiring to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization.

He wept through his 10-minute testimony Thursday, telling the judge that he was sorry he ever helped the terrorist organization and glad his actions never led to any harm.