Friends testify against man accused of terrorism

News

Ehsanul Islam Sadequee gave the closing argument in his own trial in U.S. District Court in Atlanta on Tuesday. He told jurors he’s not guilty of the four counts he is accused of, including conspiring to help terrorists wage a violent jihad.

On Aug. 3, the first day of his trial, defendant Ehsanul Islam Sadequee (right) dismissed his attorneys, Don Samuel (left) and Khurrum Wahid.

Atlanta accountant Omer Kamal on the witness stand. Once a friend of Sadequee, Kamal became a government witness. He said he spent hours watching Osama bin Laden training videos with Sadequee and Syed Haris Ahmed and practicing jihad attack moves with paintball guns in the North Georgia woods.

Ahmed told the FBI about their desires to attack Dobbins Air Force

Ahmed's father (left) and an unidentified relative in the courtroom on Friday.

Special agent Catherine Wilz testifying about Sadequee's emails. Jurors on listened to FBI agents describe e-mails and online chat conversations between Sadequee and friends.

Prosecutors said emails and chats talked about possible ways to fund a trip to Pakistan, including robbing people at ATMs and selling marijuana in Canada. In cross-examination Sadequee pointed out LOL (laugh out loud) and other online slang that he said characterized the conversations as not serious.

On Monday, jurors listened to his older sister, Sharanika Sonali Sadequee, describe her brother as a quiet, inquisitive man who traveled to Bangladesh to marry his long-time love.

Miriam Ahmed, sister of codefendant Harris Ahmed, took the witness stand Monday afternoon for Sadequee. Sadequee rested his case after calling only two witnesses. He told the judge he did not want to testify in his defense.

The jury listened to instructions before leaving to begin deliberations on Tuesday.

"I was not then, and I am not now, a terrorist," Ehsanul Islam Sadequee told the jury during closing arguments.

1/10

On Aug. 3, the first day of his trial, defendant Ehsanul Islam Sadequee (right) dismissed his attorneys, Don Samuel (left) and Khurrum Wahid.

Today's Gallery Headlines

PHOTOS: AJC Photos of the Month -- February 2026

Georgia Tech vs Virginia Tech Women Basketball

PHOTOS: Georgia Tech women fall to Virginia Tech in ACC Tournament

PHOTOS: Georgia Tech loses final home game of season

Tucker coach James Hartry's final game leading the Tigers basketball team

More Galleries

PHOTOS: Scenes from icy winter storm in Metro Atlanta

As storm inches closer to Georgia, metro Atlanta braces for ice threat

PHOTOS: Georgia readies for incoming ice storm

Alerts