Moussaoui was vulnerable to al-Qaida: expert

SEPTEMBER 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui’s isolation from family and social support networks left him vulnerable to recruitment by al-Qaida, an expert on cults told his trial yesterday.

Psychologist Paul R Martin, called by lawyers trying to save Moussaoui from the death penalty, said French Moroccans like Moussaoui generally feel alienated from Western society and his state of mind suffered even more when he left France in 1992 to study business in London.

“He’s away from his family. He’s lonely. He’s complained about racism. He’s in a new country, and he doesn’t have any support group,” Dr Martin said, describing Moussaoui’s move towards radical Islam.

Dr Martin acknowledged studies exist that find most al-Qaida terrorists come from stable backgrounds and have college education.

Dr Martin’s testimony was allowed by US District Judge Leonie Brinkema, but the judge barred any suggestion from Dr Martin or others that Moussaoui had been brainwashed.

While not specific to Moussaoui, defence lawyers introduced information from a 2003 CIA report that said al-Qaida training camps “used brainwashing techniques to cement loyalty”.

The testimony from Dr Martin came a day after testimony from a psychiatrist described Moussaoui as a paranoid schizophrenic with delusions he would be freed by President George W Bush.

Moussaoui’s defence team hopes evidence Moussaoui suffers from mental illness will persuade a jury to show mercy and spare his life.

Moussaoui insists he is not insane. Prosecutors agree and argue Moussaoui’s belief is consistent with religious beliefs, especially fundamentalist Muslims, no more insane than Christian belief in the Resurrection.