Does anybody know Tarik Shah, 42, of New York?

Coda · May-31st-2005, 05:43 AM

Pair to Be Charged With Backing Terrorists
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
NEW YORK — Dr. Rafiq Abdus Sabir (search), 50, of Boca Raton, Fla., and Tarik Shah (search), 42, of New York, were to make their first appearances Tuesday in federal courthouses in Fort Pierce, Fla., and Manhattan, respectively.

The names of their lawyers were not available Monday.

The men were arrested Friday on a charge they conspired to provide material support to Al Qaeda, an FBI agent said. If convicted, each could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.

The one-count complaint details a sting operation from 2003 to 2005 in which the two men took an oath pledging their allegiance to Al Qaeda.

Prosecutors said Sabir, an Ivy League-educated doctor, agreed to treat jihadists, or holy warriors, in Saudi Arabia. Shah, a jazz musician and a self-described martial arts expert, allegedly agreed to train them in hand-to-hand combat.

Shah's mother, Marlene Jenkins of Albany, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel the charge against her son is ridiculous and insisted he's not a terrorist. Sabir's former wife, Ingrid Doyle of New York, told the newspaper he was a good father and husband, and a hardworking man.

An 18-page complaint unsealed Monday repeatedly described Shah's zest to train "brothers" for urban warfare. It alleged both men pledged their allegiance to Al Qaeda during a May 20 meeting in the Bronx.

Shah went with an informant to a windowless Long Island warehouse to see if the location would be adequate as a training site, unaware FBI agents were secretly videotaping the visit, the papers said.

He discussed a desire to open a machine shop to make weapons so fellow enthusiasts would not have to rely on anyone else to get guns, the complaint said.

"Shah indicated that his `greatest cover has been' his career as a `professional' jazz musician," wrote Brian Murphy, the FBI agent who prepared the complaint.

At one point, the informant told Shah he was going to take him to Plattsburgh, N.Y., to introduce him to an undercover FBI agent posing as a recruiter from the Middle East.

Murphy said Shah was eager to introduce Sabir — a "very, very, very close friend" he had known for more than 20 years — to the recruiter.

Shah also discussed a desire to start a martial arts school only for Muslims and said he hoped to be trained in chemicals, explosives, firearms, AK-47 assault rifles and hand grenades, the complaint said. The defendant allegedly discussed martyrdom with the informant, saying he and Sabir had been persecuted for many years.

Sabir's neighbors in Florida said they knew little about him or his family.

"I never had a conversation with them," said Lisa Kozan, 39, who lives across the street. "They mostly keep to themselves."

Daniel McBride, spokesman for the Islamic Center of Boca Raton, said Sabir lived with Arleen Morgan, a registered nurse, and their two young sons.

Tom Storer · May-31st-2005, 06:23 AM

He's a bass player. I saw him a couple of times with Betty Carter's trio back in the mid-80's.

Coda · May-31st-2005, 01:58 PM

Tom, did this guy make an impression on you to have remembered him from the mid 80s? You must take notes during these shows or have a very keen memory.

He must have had 'something' to have made it into a Betty Carter band - she always had very fine musicians backing her up.

groover · May-31st-2005, 02:14 PM

According to AMG, he played on Abbie Lincoln's Billie Holiday tributes, a Pharoah Sanders session, and two sets by vocalist Irene Reid, one of which was released last year, but apparently recorded in 1990. Seems like Tarik hasn't been very active in jazz in over a decade. Now we know what he's been up to!

Brian Olewnick · May-31st-2005, 02:14 PM

Checking with AMG, I see he was on some Abby Lincoln records from the late 80s and Irene Reid. Actually, I have him in my collection on Pharoah Sanders' "Oh Lord, Let Me Do No Wrong" (!)

Enforcer · May-31st-2005, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

I have him in my collection on Pharoah Sanders' "Oh Lord, Let Me Do No Wrong" (!)

No, you don't.

groover · May-31st-2005, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

Actually, I have him in my collection on Pharoah Sanders' "Oh Lord, Let Me Do No Wrong" (!)

Rather ironic, indeed. Yet these Al-Qaeda types are always very confident that what they're doing is right according to their version of God.

Brian Olewnick · May-31st-2005, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

No, you don't.

Dammit, don't contradict me, Nagel!

Enforcer · May-31st-2005, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

Dammit, don't contradict me, Nagel!

I didn't.

Inordinately pleased with himself right now,
Larry

Brian Olewnick · May-31st-2005, 02:30 PM

(annoyedly suspecting that Nagel is engaging in a form of wordplay I'm unable to decipher....)

groover · May-31st-2005, 02:36 PM

Perhaps Larry was implying that the Lord himself prevented Mr. Shah from doing wrong, through the aegis of the F.B.I.

Looks like Shah's last studio date was May 1999, for Irene Reid's "Movin' Out" on Savant, released in July 2003. I guess 9/11 had a transformative effect on him, for the worse. Pity!

Enforcer · May-31st-2005, 02:42 PM

Come on, guys. "Don't contradict me." "I didn't." Get it?

Criminy!

Brian Olewnick · May-31st-2005, 02:44 PM

Oh

Darryl G. Thomas · June-1st-2005, 09:32 AM

I guess this means we'll have to watch what we say here. All jazz websites will probably be put on some watch list now.

May I be the first to say God bless George W. Bush, our Commander and Chief!

groover · June-1st-2005, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darryl G. Thomas

May I be the first to say God bless George W. Bush, our Commander and Chief!

You're too funny, Darryl!

Darryl G. Thomas · June-1st-2005, 09:46 AM

Hey I don't want to go to Gitmo and have my copy of "Kind of Blue" flushed down a toilet.

hearsay · June-1st-2005, 10:14 AM

I heard Howard Stern talk about Tarik Shah yesterday, he said, "yeah, I'd be angry if I were a Jazz musician too. Even the best guys can't make $100,00 a year".

Clay Fink · June-1st-2005, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darryl G. Thomas

Hey I don't want to go to Gitmo and have my copy of "Kind of Blue" flushed down a toilet.

Funny man.

musicmargaret · November-18th-2005, 04:19 AM

There is another thread about Tarik Shah at

http://jazzcornertalk.com/speakeasy/...ssist+arrested

(That should be all one continuous link, of course.)

I happen to know Tarik Shah, and I know a lot of others who know him, and we believe he is innocent. Last I heard, we still have the right to free speech, free assembly, and freedom of religion in this country under the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and Tarik Shah isn't even accused of anything but meeting and talking with others of his choice. The man has been imprisoned for six months, held in solitary confinement, and has never hurt a soul. He is incarcerated for being suspected of having thoughts, spoken words, and / or companions the government doesn't like -- also known as "suspicion of conspiracy."

(When you get a chance, please listen to Jeanne Lee's magnificent album
called "Conspiracy"!)

As far as I know, Tarik Shah is a fine jazz musician who taught martial
arts to Harlem children, supplemented his musician's income as a baker,
selling his delicious pies from the back of a car, and is one of the most
beloved members of the Harlem community.

There was a benefit concert for Tarik Shah in Harlem last weekend, and strong support is gathering for him in the New York music community.

If you want more details of the legal case, I can Email you, upon request, a
"New York Times" article from May 31st, 'O5 entitled "A Seemingly Ordinary
Friendship Hid a Conspiracy, Authorities Say"; a press release on the case
from the U.S. Attorney's Public Information office, Southern District of New
York, dated May 29th and entitled "Two American Citizens Charged with
Conspiring to Provide Material Support to al Qaeda"; an ABC News /
Associated Press report dated May 3Oth headed "Court Papers Detail Charges
Against Alleged Terror Backers Arrested in Florida, New York"; and an
article from this month's "All About Jazz" entitled "Jazz Musicians for
Justice to Hold Benefit Concert for Bassist Tarik Shah."

I have Tarik Shah's attorney's contact information and Tarik's address in prison, but I want to find out from his family whether it's all right to release this information, and I also need to find out the best way people can make donations if they want to. So more information will be on the way shortly.

musicmargaret · November-28th-2005, 08:25 AM

Dear all,

I want to let you all know that after he has spent six months in solitary confinement [for what??], Tarik Shah's case is finally up for a hearing Wednesday, November 3Oth at 2:3O p.m. before Judge Prescott at the U.S. Courthouse, 5OO Pearl Street at Centre Street (3 blocks north of Chambers St. above the northeast corner of City Hall Park) on the 12th floor, Manhattan, 212-8O5-O5OO or -O3OO. I think the closest subway stop would be the IRT Lexington Ave. line # 4, 5 or 6 to Brooklyn Bridge / City Hall (or by way of music directions, it's not far from J&R Music World), but you can call the transit information line for more directions: 718-33O-1234. And I think all of us in the New York area should be there to show solidarity for Tarik Shah as well as for freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion, all Constitutional rights guaranteed to every citizen. I'm sorry to say I still don't have clear instructions on how people can make donations if they want to, but I'll try to find out on Tuesday afternoon.

musicmargaret · December-8th-2005, 01:10 AM

Dear all,

There's more on the subject of Tarik Shah on another thread, at:

http://jazzcornertalk.com/speakeasy/...d.php?p=434455.