The Keepers of the Persian Gate (29 page)

“This court, convened under the principles of Sharia law will decide today whether the West is guilty of crimes against Allah. This case is now being broadcast live around the world via a live internet stream from www.JihadiKnights.com.

“To answer for the West in this case, a defendant has been carefully selected by the Jihadi Knights. Should he be found innocent he will be released. Should he be found guilty he will be executed.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, please allow the court to introduce you to the defendant, namely, the Queen’s Grandson and British Army Officer, Prince Hector.”

The camera turned toward Hector, who was placed in the dock. Meanwhile, Abdullah Atwah was placed in the public gallery.

As the judge continued to read the script, one of the gunmen came over to Paddy and ushered him out of the public gallery.

“You are lawyer?” the man asked Paddy in broken English.

“What, me? Well yes, but not fully qualified.”

The man just stared blankly back at him, then he grabbed Paddy by the scruff and sat him down opposite Tony Morley. He proceeded to drag Colin’s corpse over to the side of the room, removing Colin’s robes in the process. He then walked over to Colin’s partially bloodstained wig and lifted it. Paddy was handed both.

“What do you want me to do with these?” asked Paddy.

Morley glanced over at him. “He wants you to put them on, Paddy.”

“But why?”

“You will defend,” replied the gunman.

“But I am not a barrister, I have no rights to address this court. This is a higher court,” replied Paddy.

“I don’t think they understand you, Paddy. Best do what he says,” said Morley.

Morley was then handed his own script which outlined the charges placed against the West. Paddy was given a similar copy.

The judge then addressed Morley. “Mr. Morley, I understand you have been selected by the Jihadi Knights to be the prosecutor in this matter. Mr Trimble, I understand you will act for the defence.”

“Yes, your Lordship.” Tony and Paddy answered in unison.

“Ok, very well. Mr. Morley, please proceed.”

“May it please Your Lordship, praise be to Allah who created the creation for his worship and commanded them to be just and permitted the wronged one to retaliate against the oppressor in kind.

“I act for the prosecution in this matter. The defendant in this matter is the Western World, and the Christian infidel populations that dwell within that Western World.

“It is alleged that the West, led by the United States of America and United Kingdom, have conspired to bring about the intentional killing of innocent women and children across the Middle East.

“For the purposes of this case, the first incident of which the West was guilty was allowing Israel to invade Lebanon in 1982, and the West helped them with that. This bombardment led to many being killed and injured and others terrorised or displaced.

“Thereafter, during the Gulf War, the West engaged in Iraq in the greatest mass slaughter of children mankind has ever known.

“From 2001 to the present, the West has engaged in a vicious war against the people of Islam via Iraq and Afghanistan, killing millions in the process all of whom are innocent in the eyes of Allah.

“To answer for the crimes of the West, Prince Hector will give testimony about how he himself conspired and operated for the illegal invading forces and will explain how both he and the West have blood on their hands.

“When the dust has settled, this court will be left with no choice but to convict the West of illegally invading Islamic territories and carrying out the murder and genocide of millions of innocent Muslims.

“By the mighty Qur’an and the great scriptures of the Prophet Muhammed, universal Islam will permit this court to judge this matter under the divine law of Sharia. Under the Verse of the Sword. the aim of war, Jihad al qital, is to propagate Islam, the end justifying the means.” Tony completed his scripted opening and sat down slowly. He had developed a ghostly expression and he looked sickened by what he had just said to the Court.

Judge Brennan then turned to Paddy. Reluctantly, he addressed him. “Erm… Mr. Trimble, please.”

Paddy said nothing for a few moments.

“Mr. Trimble, come on.” said the judge nervously.

Paddy placed the bloodstained wig upon his head and looked over to the witness box. He was too young to remember any of the Gulf War and he wasn’t even born when Israel attacked Lebanon. Nevertheless, although it was several years ago, he recalled Colonel Maxwell’s military history classes at Sandhurst. Both historical events were covered in detail as part of the Officer’s course at Sandhurst. He could also recall his lectures on the Great Game of the early twentieth century and the battle for influence in the region between Russia and the British Empire. Although his knowledge was not spectacular, he also knew something of the subsequent independence of Pakistan after World War II which ultimately drew the borders of modern day Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“Your Lordship, the defence has only just received the charges made by the prosecution. Unlike the prosecution, I do not have a script, only a list of the charges placed against the defendant. As this matter is being dealt with under the guise of Sharia law, I will require a copy of the Qur’an to take this matter forward,” replied Paddy.

The judge looked at one of the English speaking combatants for approval. The man nodded his head.

“Zara, would you mind grabbing a swearing copy of the Qur’an from the witness box, please,” said the judge.

The usher reluctantly walked over to the witness box and lifted the Qur’an. She took it over to Paddy. Paddy mused over it for a few moments. Flicking through the pages, he didn’t have a clue what he was going to do next. At last he had an idea and stood to his feet.

“Your Lordship, may I be permitted just a few moments to ask Allah for the answers to my case herein,” requested Paddy.

The Knights agreed and Paddy closed his eyes. However, he wasn’t praying to Allah. Instead, he prayed to his God. He used to do this when he was going through difficult spells on deployment with the Army. He would pull out a bible and close his eyes, asking God for answers to his problems. He would then open his eyes and stop at a specific page to read the answers. He did exactly the same on this occasion with the Qur’an. When he opened his eyes he looked down and there it was, Qur’an 22:39-41.

“My Lordship,” Paddy began, “I can only defend the actions of the West where they have been justified. However, if some are proved to have been without justification, then I can only plead mitigating circumstances. Let us now first examine why the West was justified in invading Afghanistan and Iraq in 2001 and 2003.

“The key principle I want to impress upon this court is the right, enshrined within the Qur’an to retaliate. In this regard I refer the court’s attention to V22:39 which reads as follows:

“‘Permission is given to those who fight because they have been wronged, and God is indeed able to give them victory; those who have been driven from their homes unjustly only because they said, “Our Lord is God” - for had it not been for God’s repelling some men by means of others, monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques, in which the name of God is much mentioned, would certainly have been destroyed. Verily God helps those that help Him - lo! God is Strong, Almighty - those who, if they are given power in the land, establish worship and pay the poordue and enjoin what is good and forbid iniquity.’

“On September 11, 2001, the West was deliberately attacked by agents of Al Qaeda. As a result of those attacks nearly 3000 souls lost their lives in a series of coordinated attacks against the heart of the United States of America: the twin towers, the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 77.

“Given that this case is being made along religious grounds, the principles of natural justice dictate that the accused is permitted to refer to its own sacred scriptures. In this regard, I refer the court’s attention to Matthew 5:38 which states:

“‘You have heard that it was said, “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth”; You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth”’

“The response of the West to those attacks was universal condemnation of those responsible. Later followed by military action. The deaths of those in Afghanistan and Iraq can only be justified acts in the course of war. Indeed, as my right honourable friend has already mentioned, the end justifies the means.

“At no stage did the West ever engage in an international vendetta against innocent civilians in these two countries. On the contrary, any innocent civilians killed in the so-called War on Terror were unfortunate ancillary consequences of the goals of War. But, there was never any direct targeting. The very nature of the war required the implementation of airstrikes by Western Coalition forces, and this was an essential part of a successful counterterrorism strategy.

“Turning now to the first Gulf War. It is the defence’s submission that perhaps more than ever in the recent history of mankind was the West justified in invading Iraq. Nevertheless, I must confess that my knowledge of this subject is only what I was taught from history. And therein lies a point which I wish to emphasise. That is, much of the populations of the West suffered on 9/11 and from further terrorist attacks in London on 7/7 with the tube and bus bombings killing 57 people, and the Madrid train bombings killing 191 people to name but a few. Your Lordship, many of these victims were also not born at the time of the incidents for which they are now accused and therefore should not be regarded as being culpable.

“Without the figures in front of me, I would conservatively estimate that perhaps over a third of the Western populace therefore cannot fall within the remit of this court. We must then turn to the other two thirds or thereabouts, ie. my father and my mother’s generation.

“On 2 August 1990, Iraq illegally invaded the sovereign state of Kuwait. Independent of economic reasons for the invasion, which in any event would be unjustifiable in international law, the invasion was illegal. Much in the same way as when Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, the superpowers responded in a manner proportionate to the aggression of the invader by declaring war.

“In a carefully thought out and strategic operation called Desert Storm, coalition forces from over thirty countries, including several Middle Eastern states, attacked Iraq with pinpoint air strikes against major military targets as well as governmental buildings.

“Now I turn to the aims of the war, and will outline why they were justified. George Bush Senior stated that four simple principles underpinned the policy of the Western forces. These were:

“1, to seek the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait;

“2, Kuwait’s legitimate government would be restored;

“3, to promote peace and security in the Persian Gulf; and,

“4, to protect the lives of Western citizens abroad.

“My lord, all of these legitimate and peaceful goals were achieved. It would be wrong of me to suggest that innocent civilians were not killed in the process. Indeed, many thousands were killed, including children. However, it is the defence’s submission to this court that the end justified the means.

“Finally, I turn to the issue of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon…”

Paddy was suddenly cut off by one of the gunmen. “That’s enough!”

“My Lordship, I have not finished,” said Paddy.

Judge Brennan mustered some of that legendary courage which he was known for and addressed the gunman. “Excuse me, Mr?”

“Farooq.”

“Mr Farooq. Please be seated.”

“He has said enough.” Farooq pointed his gun at the judge.

The judge then addressed the camera. “Justice is not served until the defence has had a complete chance to put forward his case, Mr. Farooq.”

“We don’t care,” said Mr. Farooq.

“Very well, Mr. Farooq. This is your court now. I won’t be a part of this,” replied Judge Brennan.

Farooq ran up to the judge and smashed him in the face with the back of his machine gun. The judge was bleeding from the lip. All the while, Paddy, Tony and the armed guards and soldiers in attendance were helpless to intervene. The gunman tied the judge to his chair behind the bench so he could not move.

Tony quietly turned to Paddy. “That was one hell of an opening, Mr. Trimble. Stick it to them.”

It was quite an opening. Paddy hadn’t realised the effect it had. If the world’s media were worth their salt at all, the live internet stream would be being broadcast on every news network across the globe.

“Call the Infidel Prince!” shouted Farooq to Morley.

“No,” replied Morley.

“Did you not hear what I said?” replied Farooq.

“I did. But in the name of democracy, and all things that are good, with respect, you can go to hell, Mr. Farooq. The show you are putting on here is making a mockery of peace and freedom,” replied Morley.

“Tony! What the hell are you doing?” shouted Paddy. “I call the defendant.”

“You’re out of turn!” replied Morley.

“I’m not going to let you sacrifice yourself for this crowd of fanatics,” replied Paddy.

Prince Hector was pulled out of the dock and thrown into the witness box. He stared at Paddy and then turned to Tony and with a familiar smile began to speak. “Mr. Morley, I command you as your Prince to examine me.”

Morley turned to Paddy who nodded back to him.

“Your Royal Highness. You are a Captain within the British Army.”

“Yes”

“And you have been a serving Officer in the British Army for how long?”

“Eight years,” replied Prince Hector.

“What do you make of the accusations made against you as the representative for the Western World?”

“I stand over every last one of my actions and the actions of the men under my command. In war, things happen. Most are not of a good nature. However, I can honestly say that during my eight years in the British Army, not once was I or any of the men under my command guilty of the offences placed against the West today.