08-14-2018, 03:12 PM
Public Defender Clark said his client Sirraj Wahhaj had permits to carry his weapons and no criminal record — accusing prosecutors of holding adults at the compound to an unusual standard because of their race and Muslim faith.
“They are black and they are Muslim,” Clark said. “If these were white people of Christian faith who owned guns, it’s not a big deal. ... But they look different and they worship different than the rest of us.”
The prosecutors were not able to produce any evidence that the Siraj Wahhaj and the other adults at the desert compound were training the kids for school shootings and it's not against the law to teach children to shoot with adult supervision.
Judge Sarah Barckus allowed the defendants to post $20,000 bond and they will soon be released pending trial, with ankle monitors and prohibitions against consuming alcohol or possessing firearms -- with the exception of Siraj Wahhaj who is being held in relation to his 3-year-old son's death.
Governor Susana Martinez told the press she disagreed with releasing any of the defendants.
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“They are black and they are Muslim,” Clark said. “If these were white people of Christian faith who owned guns, it’s not a big deal. ... But they look different and they worship different than the rest of us.”
The prosecutors were not able to produce any evidence that the Siraj Wahhaj and the other adults at the desert compound were training the kids for school shootings and it's not against the law to teach children to shoot with adult supervision.
Judge Sarah Barckus allowed the defendants to post $20,000 bond and they will soon be released pending trial, with ankle monitors and prohibitions against consuming alcohol or possessing firearms -- with the exception of Siraj Wahhaj who is being held in relation to his 3-year-old son's death.
Governor Susana Martinez told the press she disagreed with releasing any of the defendants.
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