OTTAWA -  Momin Khawaja's lawyer says the al Qaeda operatives of 9-11 will score a victory if his client is convicted of terrorism charges on the basis of mere rhetoric or guilt by association.

Lawrence Greenspon told Khawaja's trial today that Canadian anti-terrorism laws passed following the attacks on New York and Washington seven years ago must be applied in a fair and just way.

Khawaja, arrested four years ago in Ottawa, faces seven charges of financing and facilitating terrorism.

It includes the key accusation he built a remote-control device to trigger explosions planned by Islamic extremists in the United Kingdom.

Greenspon told Ontario Superior Court there is no evidence his client had specific knowledge of the British fertilizer bomb plot.

Five alleged collaborators, including ringleader Omar Khyam, were convicted in London and sentenced last year to life behind bars.