Court to consider forced medication in terror support case

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal appeals court will consider whether a North Carolina man can be forcibly medicated in order to stand trial on a charge that he tried to join al-Qaida-linked fighters in Syria.

Basit Sheikh is charged with providing material support to a terrorist group for attempting to join militants in Syria.

A federal judge ruled in October that the Pakistan native can be forcibly treated for schizophrenia to see if that will make him competent to stand trial. A three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in Sheikh’s case Thursday.

Sheikh’s attorney said in court documents that the government is trying to use the man as a “human ‘guinea pig.” Prosecutors say the charge he faces is serious and must be considered in court.