Founder of radical Islamic website gets 2½ years

In this 1998 file photo made available Friday, March 19, 2004, Ayman al-Zawahri poses for a photograph with Osama bin Laden in Khost, Afghanistan. AP

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia— The founder of a radical Islamic website that praised figures like Osama bin Laden and Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan has been sentenced to 2½ years in prison for using the site to threaten Jewish groups.

Yousef al-Khattab, 45, had converted from Judaism and started the Revolution Muslim website in 2007.

Al-Khattab admitted posting articles encouraging readers to take unspecified action against Jewish leaders and publishing names and addresses of Jewish leaders and synagogues.

Prosecutors say numerous people who have been convicted of terrorism-related offenses were readers of Revolution Muslim.

Defense lawyers say it is conjecture to assume people were inspired to plot attacks by Revolution Muslim.

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