Cary man accused of trying to join al-Qaida group to have involuntary mental commitment
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Federal Judge Terrence Boyle, who previously declared Basit Sheikh competent to stand trial changed course Wednesday by ordering the 30-year-old Cary man involuntarily held at a mental facility for no more than 120 days.
Sheikh was charged with providing material support to terrorists more than a year ago. According to court documents, the FBI claims the Pakistan-native told an informant that he wanted to join the jihad in Syria. According to the FBI, they have evidence in the form of online posts about terrorism.
Sheikh's father has denied the allegations but Wednesday refused to comment to ABC11 after the 15-minute hearing at the federal courthouse in Raleigh.
In the courtroom, Sheikh repeatedly ignored the judge's warnings and interrupted with what Boyle called a "stream of consciousness outbursts."
At one point, Sheikh said, "Apologize to my brothers and sisters in Syria." He often invoked the name of President Barack Obama saying, "The war on terror is an unjust war."
The judge said if his behavior in court was a prelude to how he would act at trial then he was proving "...he's not competent." Sheikh responded by saying he was competent and had the right to say whatever he wanted.
As Sheikh continued to speak, the judge said that a recent examination by a psychiatrist showed that Sheikh was suffering from a severe mental disorder. Boyle noted that Sheikh's mental commitment would determine whether competency could be restored and that medications might be administered involuntarily.
As Sheikh, who now sports wavy, shoulder-length hair and a long beard, turned to wave at his parents in the court room, his mother blew him a kiss.
