United States Government Offers Condolences to Samir Khan's Family

The family of Samir Khan has received condolences from the United States government, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Khan, 25, and a class of 2003 graduate, was killed on Sept. 30 in a United States air drone attack in Yemen that also took the life of radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki and two other men.

"They were very apologetic (for not calling the family sooner) and offered condolences," Jibril Hough told the Charlotte Observer about the call from the State Department to Khan's father, Zafar.

From the Charlotte Observer:

The phone call came a day after the family released a statement through Hough that condemned the "assassination" of their 25-year-old son - a U.S. citizen - and said they were "appalled" that they had not heard from the U.S. government to discuss their son's remains or answer questions about why Khan was not afforded due process.

Despite his family's efforts, Khan left his Charlotte home in 2009 to head to Yemen, and he became obsessed with radical thoughts. Khan allegedly started Inspire Magazine, which recently drew worldwide attention for encouraging celebration of the Sept. 11 attacks. The magazine was discussed on TV shows throughout the country, including CNN's "The Situation Room" and Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report."

From Inspire Magazine:

"I decided to take up the pen and write out my thoughts and feelings regarding America's cowboy behavior in the Islamic lands" wrote Khan. "I knew that I had to stay under the guidelines of the laws regarding freedom of speech, but at the same time, I knew the real truth wouldn't be able to reach the masses unless and until I was above the law."

In the W.T. Clarke High School class of 2003 yearbook, Khan shared the following quote:

"If you give satan an inch, he'll be a ruler."

Khan, who wrote for The Vanguard and played junior varsity football at Clarke, also had the word "Mujahid" standing alone in the yearbook under his name. "Mujahid" means "a Muslim engaged in what he considers to be a jihad," according to Dictionary.com. Khan also explained in the yearbook that he planned to go oversees in the future.

"I’m planning to teach philosophy in religion," Khan wrote. "During the learning process, I hope to go oversees and study Islamic law in other subjects that deal with Islam."