Judge orders mentally ill man medicated in terrorism case

By EMERY P. DALESIO
Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – A federal judge says a North Carolina man accused of trying to join al-Qaida-linked fighters in Syria should be forcibly injected with anti-psychotic medication to see if that will make him competent to face trial.

U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle ruled 32-year-old Basit Sheikh of Cary faced serious charges that need a trial and prison doctors could medicate him with limited side effects.

Boyle put Tuesday’s order on hold to allow an expected appeal. At least four similar cases in the appeals court region that includes North Carolina were later overturned.

Sheikh is charged with providing material support to a terrorist group for attempting to join Jabhat al-Nusra militants. He was arrested almost two years ago in an FBI sting to find and arrest Americans before they fought in Syria.

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