An Ottawa man convicted on terror charges in 2006 had his 10-year sentence increased to life Friday as an Ontario Court of Appeal sent a firm message on the consequences of terrorism in Canada.
Momin Khawaja, a former Ottawa software developer and the first person charged under Canada's anti-terrorism law, was found guilty of building a detonator as part of a plot to blow up shopping malls and night clubs in Britain.
The appeals court said the judge in Khawaja's 2006 case made a mistake by striking down parts of the Criminal Code's anti-terrorism provision after ruling the legislation may prevent fundamentalist Muslims from expressing their political or religious beliefs.
