Ralph Wyman was shaking his head, as if he didn’t want to answer.
The prosecutor asked the question again.
“Some of the folks in the church…a few of them…they said that…that Gilead acted like he had some kind of messiah complex—but I sure didn’t ever see it. And I just want to say for the record here, for what it’s worth, I never saw anything in his behavior or his walk with the Lord that in any way indicated he would ever hurt a single person…he was just not a violent person…he was as gentle as a dove.”
Zayed moved that the tribunal strike the last part of Wyman’s answer, and Judge Mustafa ordered it stricken. The prosecution rested.
Will Chambers’ examination would be succinct.
“Does the New Testament speak of prophetic gifts—‘Christ gave some to be prophets’—that’s what it says of the gifting of the church of Jesus Christ?”
“Yes. It certainly does.”
“And there is some difference of opinion among Bible-believing, born-again Christians about what that means, is there not?”
“Yes. That’s true, Mr. Chambers.”
“So when Gilead said he was called to fulfill a prophetic role, you didn’t believe that he was necessarily departing from the doctrine of the Christian faith?”
“No, sir. I did not.”
“Did Gilead preach on a few Sundays when you were away on church business—like at a pastor’s conference, for instance?”
“Yes. He did.”
“Were his messages recorded?”
“They were.”
“Did you review them on your return?”
“I sure did.”
“Anything objectionable about his teaching or preaching?”
“None whatsoever.”
“Nothing bizarre or unbiblical?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Did he ever preach violence or the condoning of violence?”
“Just the opposite. One of his messages was on the Beatitudes—‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’ ”
Will sat down. Samir Zayed strode up to the podium with two pieces of paper in his hand.
“You had Mr. Amahn’s Bible preaching recorded, didn’t you?”
“Yes. I already said that.”
“And won’t you tell our esteemed judges why that was? Was it because a Mr. and Mrs…” and with that Zayed glanced down at one of the papers, “because a Mr. and Mrs. Cornwalls and a Mr. Goodie, from your church, said they suspected Hassan Gilead Amahn of believing some things that were not the truth from God—and so you decided to record his preaching to check him out for yourself?”
“What you are reading is probably from our church minutes that got subpoenaed. And of course, we objected to having to produce that…”
Then the pastor turned to the judges.
“We thought that the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects the free exercise of religion of everybody, including churches—we thought that should mean that the government doesn’t have the right to make a church open up its private board of elders meetings for everybody to look at—”
“Mr. Pastor Wyman,” Judge Mustafa broke in, with a measure of irritation in his voice, “please don’t lecture this tribunal. Attorney Chambers already filed arguments making the very same point you just made…and this tribunal has rejected those arguments. Please try to remember, sir—you’re not in West Virginia now.”
The look the witness in the booth gave the chief judge made it clear to everyone, that he was painfully aware of that last fact.
Prosecutor Zayed then pulled out the second piece of paper he had in front of him.
“And in another meeting of your church elders board,” the prosecutor said, “several people said that Hassan Gilead Amahn seemed to be pretending to be some kind of ‘special agent of God’ rather than a regular preacher, is that right?”
“Well, that’s what the minutes say…but that’s not what the discussion was really about—”
But before the witness could continue, Zayed cut him off and sat down.
Will Chambers rose for recross-examination.
“The real discussion,” Will said, “reflected in those minutes had to do with what, Pastor?”
“Had to do with the fact they thought Gilead was acting too autonomous…didn’t check in enough with the board of elders. It had nothing to do with their believing that Gilead thought he was some kind of messiah. There is only one true Messiah, one mediator between God and man, as Scripture says, and that’s the Lord Jesus Christ! And I’m sure Gilead is in agreement with that.”
“Amen,” Gilead said quietly from his seat at the counsel table.
Will sat down.
But Samir Zayed jumped up and walked quickly back to the podium for his final examination.
“Your church minutes say this, do they not Mr. Wyman—‘Gilead Amahn seems to be acting as if he reports directly to God only. He’s acting like he has the role of a prophet or special apostle, but only Christ Himself was able to account directly to God without a structure of church authority. Does Gilead think he’s equal to the authority of Christ?’ The minutes of your own church say that, correct?”
Pastor Wyman’s eyes were searching. Then they found Gilead Amahn. After a few seconds, he answered.
“They do say that. One of the deacons was making that point. And it got written down. But sir, I know what I remember about that meeting…and it was different than what that piece of paper makes it appear.”
The prosecutor smiled. He lifted the copy of the church minutes high over his head.
“You choose your own mind about this rather than what is written?”
“I guess I do.”
“Do you have your Bible with you, Pastor Wyman?”
The pastor smiled, retrieved his pocket Bible out of his suit-coat, and held it up.
Then Samir Zayed went in for the kidney punch.
“Now will you tell this tribunal, Pastor Wyman, do you believe, more, what is in your mind—or do you believe the Bible, that which is written?”
“If I can clarify one thing, you’re a little bit confused on something…comparing church minutes to the Word of—”
“Answer, please, the question that I put to you!” Zayed exclaimed.
“You know what my answer is going to be—”
“Answer the question now.”
“Of course,” the witness said with exasperation, “I believe the written record, the written Word of God.”
“That which is written?”
“Yes. What is written.”
As Wyman slowly and awkwardly made his way out of the booth, Will understood something.
It had of course dawned on him, from the very beginning, that this criminal trial would inevitably and slowly constrict—like a powerful gravitational force, imploding to the core issue of what Gilead believed about himself, about his calling, and about God.
Will wondered how far it would go—the extent to which the public prosecutor would attempt to have those theological issues swallow this criminal case whole—like some massive, constricting anaconda consuming it in a slow and merciless digestion.
As the next prosecution witness mounted the stand inside the enclosure, Will knew he was about to find out.
57
“WHEN THE ACCUSED, HASSAN GILEAD AMAHN, appeared at the Islamic Conference in Virginia, America, what did he do?”
“He stood at the microphone on the floor of the hall and proceeded to insult all of those of us present—to hurl violent statements.”
“What violent insults did he cast upon you personally?”
“That I have led millions of Muslims astray. He accused me of idolatry…that I was a teacher of false religion…that I was vain, and of a fleshly mind…that Jesus would judge me and all those who follow the heavenly religion of Islam…and that when Jesus returns—and he was yelling and screaming this—there would be judgment in store for us.”
“Did the accused say when this judgme
nt was coming?”
“He screamed at me, and at all of the clerics of Islam, that Jesus’ coming was very, very soon—as if it were just around the corner. That judgment was about to begin.”
“What happened then as a result of the insulting, disruptive behavior of the accused?”
“A riot broke out, caused by the violent rantings of the accused, this Hassan Gilead Amahn, and many people were injured, and many were very upset. It was a terrible thing.”
Will Chambers rose to object. He had anticipated that the prosecution, in calling Sheikh Mudahmid, a mufti of Islamic terrorists, would use him to describe the Islamic Center riot. Thus they could paint Gilead as an agitator, a provoker of violence, and a hater of Islam.
“I move to strike the sheikh’s last answer. Mr. Amahn was tried in a court of the Commonwealth of Virginia regarding that incident. He was found not guilty of any wrongdoing and declared innocent of provoking a public disturbance. Thus, the judgment of that court constitutes ‘collateral estoppel’ and precludes the issue from being retried.”
Judge Lee Kwong-ju motioned to the chief judge, asking permission to engage defense counsel.
“For that doctrine to apply,” Lee inquired, “there must be a common identity of issues and parties—here, comparing your opponent in Virginia in that case to your opponent here. That is true?”
“That is true, Your Honor,” Will replied. “And I would suggest that the Commonwealth Attorney’s office sought in that case—very aggressively, I might add—to prove my client guilty. The same motivation Mr. Zayed has in this case.”
“But different crimes?”
“Yes.”
“And different jurisdictions—one, a state court within a given nation—and here, an international court reviewing international crimes against humanity. Do you not agree?”
“True, but the underlying intent of the prosecution,” Will continued to press, “is the same in both cases—to show that the accused, Mr. Amahn, provoked violence—”
“I believe we can accept the reciting of facts from this witness without being bound by the Virginia judgment in the other case,” Judge Lee said matter-of-factly.
Judge Mustafa nodded vigorously. “Motion to strike is denied. Your objection is—again—overruled, Mr. Chambers.”
“One last question,” the prosecutor Zayed said. “Within just a few weeks of the statements of the accused, threatening judgment against Muslims, what terrible thing happened?”
Sheikh Mudahmid leaned forward in his chair. He stroked his long beard, carefully considering the question.
“Within just weeks of the accused…threatening Islam with judgment and destruction…the sacred site of the Noble Sanctuary, our holy mosques and the Dome of the Rock—our Muslim people—were blown up, destroyed, in a bloody act of vengeance by Mr. Hassan Gilead Amahn and his infidel followers, these Knights of the Temple Mount.”
Zayed strode back to the prosecution’s table with a look of consummate satisfaction.
As Will made his way to the podium he knew two things. First, he was forbidden from challenging the mufti about his own terrorist connections. That avenue of inquiry had already been barred by the prosecution’s motion in limine, which had been granted by the tribunal in a pretrial ruling.
And secondly, he would have to be as cautious in handling this witness as a snake charmer lifting a cobra out of a basket.
“Sheikh Mudahmid,” Will said in a confident greeting.
“Attorney Chambers,” the witness said, nodding his head slightly but never taking his gaze off Will.
“Sheikh, you say that Gilead Amahn was insulting to you and to the other Muslim clerics. True?”
“Of course this is true. I have explained this very clearly.”
“The insult came from Mr. Amahn’s words?”
“His very presence in the Hall of the Prophet that day was an insult.”
“So then, his words were neither insulting nor threatening—just his presence?”
“I did not say that. His words were an insult. And a clear threat.”
“Then let’s talk about his words. Why would you—a very powerful mufti, a religious leader who has many bodyguards protecting him wherever he goes, who issues religious fatwahs to thousands of his followers—why would you have felt insulted by the mere words of this young preacher?”
“He was insolent and blasphemous.”
“Because he elevated Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, above the prophet Muhammad?”
“No one can elevate Jesus above Muhammad. Only Allah himself, may his name be praised, decides who rises and who falls. And that includes you, Mr. Chambers.”
“So, did you agree with Gilead that Jesus is the Son of God?”
The sheikh was sending Will Chambers a scorching, withering gaze.
“Such things are for Allah to declare—and he has declared it in his holy book, the Quran. I would recommend that you read it.”
“I have,” Will shot back. “Let’s take this section of the Quran, Sura 17:111—it says, ‘Praise to God who took not a son…’—did I read that correctly?”
“You did.”
“God has no son, then?”
“Allah has spoken.”
“But Gilead Amahn preached to you that Jesus was indeed the Son of God and that He has the power to judge both the living and the dead?”
“The accused sitting there,” and with that the sheikh pointed through the glass booth to Gilead Amahn, “said we were to be judged by Jesus, and he said, ‘Woe to you false teachers of the law’—that is what he said.”
“But he also said that Jesus has the power to forgive and to save?”
“What is this you are saying to me? Do you provoke me?”
“Gilead came to you and preached Jesus the Christ, who died on the cross to cleanse us, all of us, from the stain of sin, the perfect Lamb to the slaughter. But you, as a Muslim, do not believe that. And so you were insulted—not threatened with destruction or violence—but your heart was troubled because of the preaching of this young man, like a sword into your soul. Right?”
The sheikh was silent, seething.
“For the Quran teaches that Jesus did not die on the cross—is that not correct?”
“The Quran teaches that Jesus the prophet did not die on the cross. But such sayings are only for the wise who can accept them. Not for the fools who cannot.”
“What were Gilead’s last words to you that day, sheikh? What were they?”
“He condemned me to judgment and destruction!”
“Were those his last words?”
“Did I not already answer you?”
“Be very careful, sheikh,” Will now raised his hand up, holding a sheaf of papers. “I have the verbatim transcript from the recording of the meeting at the Islamic Center that day—do you need me to show you what Gilead Amahn actually said?”
Sheikh Mudahmid glared, his rage now barely contained.
“Are you threatening me, Mr. Chambers?”
“Only with the truth,” Will replied. “It is the only weapon I have.”
“And what truth would that be?”
“That Gilead said to you, and I quote—‘If you embrace Jesus the Messiah, His love is great enough to save you, Sheikh Mudahmid.’ ”
The sheikh paused and raised his head, his gaze still locked onto Will’s.
“It was said. You have read it. What more must we discuss? Why didn’t this infidel go to those who wanted to hear such rantings? Go where he was welcomed…rather than where he was not?”
“Perhaps,” Will said calmly and quietly, collecting his papers from the podium, “because he felt that the sheep who have wandered are the ones most in need of being guided to the Great Shepherd.”
Samir Zayed leaped up and objected, moving to strike Will’s last comment.
Judge Mustafa hastened to grant the objection, and then issued a stern warning to Will to “cease from any further intolerant religious sermonizing durin
g this trial.”
Will, unperturbed, smiled, nodded in acknowledgment, and sat down.
Mira Ashwan rose and asked permission to question the witness as defense amicus curiae. The tribunal quickly granted her request.
“Sheikh Mudahmid,” she began, “you were not present at the destruction of the Noble Sanctuary on the so-called Temple Mount, were you?”
“No, I was spared having to witness that slaughter of my people.”
“You did not see, or hear, what Hassan Gilead Amahn did or said that day?”
“That is true.”
“Are you a scholar who has studied the history of the so-called Temple Mount in Jerusalem?”
“Yes.”
“On June 7, 1967, when the Israeli army forced its way into Jerusalem during the Six-Day War, was there a Jewish army rabbi who was with that army during its takeover of the so-called Temple Mount?”
“Yes, the history is very clear on that. I believe his name was Shlomo Goren. He was a general in the Israeli army and a rabbi.”
“What was his recommendation?”
“That the so-called Temple Mount area—the Muslim mosques, the Dome of the Rock—that they all should be bombed and exploded to make way for the appearing of the Jewish Messiah.”
The sheikh’s voice boomed throughout the courtroom.
“And did the military do that?”
“No…that one time the Israeli army did the correct thing. But, it does point out the obvious…”
“What is that?”
“That there has been a longstanding Jewish conspiracy to destroy the Muslim presence on what they claim is the Temple Mount.”
“Why do you say, ‘What they claim is the Temple Mount’?”
“Because I know there is no evidence of this mount being the site of the Jewish Temple of Solomon, which was rebuilt by Herod. No evidence—simply Jewish fables.”
“And in regard to this Jewish conspiracy to destroy the Muslim structures on top of the mount—Gilead Amahn is Arab, is he not—not a Jew?”
“That is correct, as I understand it.”
“So perhaps there was a Jewish conspiracy to destroy the Noble Sanctuary, but Gilead was simply not part of it?”
Will and Nigel Newhouse exchanged nervous glances. They both knew the dilemma they were facing. They did not want to divide the defense team by objecting to the questions of defense amicus curiae. On the other hand, Mira was venturing onto dangerous, speculative, and unproven ground.
The Last Judgment Page 28