PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) – A US judge yesterday sentenced an American woman who called herself Jihad Jane to 10 years in prison – at least a decade less than prosecutors had sought for her role in a failed plot to kill a Swedish artist who had depicted the head of the Muslim Prophet Mohammad on a dog.
Colleen R LaRose, 50, who converted to Islam online and has maintained her faith, was given credit for the four years she has already served. LaRose, who pleaded guilty to following orders in 2009 from alleged al Qaeda operatives, could have received a life sentence.
“It’s a just and reasonable sentence,” her attorney, Mark Wilson, told reporters after the hearing. “She’s pleased. Ten years is about what we were hoping for all along.”
US District Judge Petrese Tucker called LaRose’s crimes “gravely serious,” adding: “The court has no doubt that, given the opportunity, Ms LaRose would have completed the mission.”
Tucker also cited the significant cooperation LaRose has given the Federal Bureau of Investigation in other terrorism cases since her 2009 arrest, as well as the sexual and other abuse she suffered as a child. That abuse was chronicled in a 2011 Reuters investigative series.
LaRose, who used the name Jihad Jane as she became involved in the Muslim online community, traveled to Europe in 2009 intending to participate in a militant plot to shoot artist Lars Vilks in the chest six times. But LaRose became impatient with the men who lured her to Europe and she gave up after six weeks and returned to Philadelphia, where she was arrested.
At yesterday’s hearing, LaRose apologized for blindly following the instructions of her handlers.
“I was in a trance and I couldn’t see anything else,” she said. “I don’t want to be in jihad no more.”