An article in the New Yorker this week features an interview with religion professor Tamara Sonn, based on her experience examining John Walker Lindh, the 22-year-old known as "the American Taliban." Sonn was to testify in Lindh's trial as an expert witness for the defense.
The case was settled in July at the Alexandria, Va. federal district court when Lindh pleaded guilty to two charges against him, willfully providing services to the Taliban, and to carrying an explosive device while committing a felony. He received a 10-year sentence for each charge.
"It's an indication of the growing prominence of the faculty at the College," Vice President of University Relations Bill Walker said. "Dr. Sonn is an expert in Islamic studies who is recognized worldwide, and she was called upon for her expertise."
Lindh's defense team called Sonn last summer based on her credibility "as a highly qualified expert" in Islamic studies. Among other contributions to the field, she is the president of the American Council for the Study of Islamic Societies and senior editor of the Oxford Dictionary of Islam. In addition, she has been called upon for her expertise by U.N. committees and several human rights organizations, as well as the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Lindh's defense team asked Sonn to share her knowledge of Islam with special respect to Lindh's involvement as a fighter for the Taliban against the Northern Alliance in the Afghan civil war.
"Since the Taliban believed they were fighting a war of self-defense against the Northern Alliance, they believed they were engaged in a jihad," Sonn said. "I was therefore asked to comment specifically on the nature and meaning of jihad."
In addition, Sonn examined Lindh regarding "his understanding of Islam and jihad," which is the information addressed in the New Yorker article.
"I questioned him and found that he seemed deeply devout and had a mainstream understanding of jihad as being of two kinds," Sonn said, citing both "'greater jihad' the ongoing struggle to become a better person" and "'lesser jihad' the military action, which is required in self-defense or in defense of those under attack."
According to the New Yorker, Sonn also said of Lindh, "He's not someone who is politically aware," and that "he'd only vaguely heard of bin Laden."
Although she did not give an opinion on the case, Sonn did say that the New Yorker article "seemed thorough and accurate."
"Interviewing Lindh was among my professional responsibilities," Sonn said.