Max Abrahms, a Northeastern University political science professor who studies terrorism, said judges rarely throw out plea deals agreed to by prosecutors.

“He was very clear about what his intent was, and why he wanted to attack this predominantly Muslim town,” Abrahms said, later adding: “So far, the treatment of this guy has been too lenient.”

Abrahms said Muslims have a point when they complain about a double standard and misperceptions about Muslims. Abrahms cited a study by the New America research center that says nearly twice as many people have been killed by white supremacists and other non-Muslim extremists in the U.S. than by radical Muslims since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

The New York Times