MOSCOW, September 24 (RIA Novosti) - The Parole Board of Canada has denied early parole to Fahim Ahmad, the ringleader of Toronto 18 who conspired to break into Parliament and decapitate politicians back in 2006, The Globe And Mail reported Wednesday.
According to the agency, the panel deemed that there was not enough evidence that the convict would successfully fit back into society. As one of the reasons for denying parole, the board cited Ahmad's exposure to the Internet, which served as the major contributor to his extremist beliefs.
During his 2010 trial, Ahmad confessed to being part of a terrorist gang as well as importing firearms and having one other convict assist the terrorist group in its activities.
Ahmad's request for parole came after the judge responsible for the sentence four years ago stated that the ringleader could achieve rehabilitation.
In his letter to the court, Ahmad labeled himself as having grown respectful while serving the sentence at Toronto's Don Jail.
It is reported that the wife and father-in-law of Ahmad similarly sent letters to the court in which they claimed Ahmad had become more moderate and tolerant.
Zakaria Amara, another head of the gang, was granted life sentence in 2010 without eligibility for parole until 2016.
Toronto 18 refers to the anti-terrorist operation conducted in Ontario, Canada in 2006, which saw 18 people taken into custody. Of the 18 people seven pleaded guilty.
According to media reports, the arrested were described as having al-Qaeda-related aspirations.
