Terror suspect asks judge for exorcist

Relatives of terrorism suspect Ehsanul Islam Sadequee accused federal authorities Monday of using mind-control tactics intended to induce a guilty plea.

Sadequee’s family leveled the accusations after a court hearing in which Sadequee pleaded not guilty to a recently returned, amended federal indictment.

Sadequee and former Georgia Tech student Syed Haris Ahmed are being held without bond on charges they conspired to provide material support to terrorists.

At Monday’s hearing, Sadequee asked U.S. Magistrate Judge Gerrylin Brill for an “exorcist” to free the “demons” placed in his head by authorities.

Brill denied the request.

Appearing in prison garb, canvas slip-ons, a long beard and an off-white knit cap, Sadequee took the unusual step of speaking for himself in court.

He told Brill that he had been subjected to psychological abuse at the federal penitentiary where he is being held. He accused Ahmed, who also has pleaded not guilty, of being a confidential informant.

Scheduled to stand trial in August, Sadequee also asked Brill to move up the date.

Sadequee and Ahmed are to be tried separately, with Ahmed going to trial first on June 1.

Both men are accused of trying, in 2005, to join Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan-based militant group India blames for the recent terrorist rampage in Mumbai that killed 164 people. They also are accused of taking videos of “symbolic and infrastructure targets for potential terrorist attacks” in Washington during a trip there in 2005.

After Monday’s hearing, family members said they were extremely concerned about Sadequee’s condition and feared that he could die in custody.

The family released a statement from the “Legal Justice Committee,” which accused the FBI and other authorities of “kidnapping” Sadequee in April 2006 when he was arrested in Bangladesh. The family declined to give any information about the justice committee.

In a letter sent to the warden on Dec. 31, the family accused the prison of failing to deliver timely medical treatment.

At Monday’s hearing, Don Samuel, one of Sadequee’s lawyers, asked Brill to order the prison to release his client’s medical records.

U.S. Attorney David Nahmias said Sadequee was harmed by another inmate, who had broken free from two prison guards while he was handcuffed and wearing leg chains. The inmate head-butted Sadequee.

In an interview following Monday’s hearing, Nahmias said Sadequee received appropriate medical care.

Nahmias also said the FBI did not kidnap Sadequee.