Possible al Qaeda Members Set Free in Yemen
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in The War On TerrorismIt’s a difficult thing to think that 19 possibly al Qaeda members are going to get off with no charges, but that’s the law…in Yemen.
SAN’A, Yemen (AP) — The trial of 19 alleged al Qaeda members had been designed to showcase how serious Yemen was in the fight against terror. But the Islamic militants, accused of plotting to assassinate Westerners and blow up a hotel frequented by Americans, were all acquitted for lack of proof, the presiding judge ruled Saturday.Prosecutors had failed to provide “adequate evidence that the defendants were plotting attacks against foreigners or planning to assassinate Americans in Yemen,” the verdict said.
Ahh yes, but what’s the real reason?
Critics say the decision points to the Yemeni president’s bid to win the radical Islamic vote ahead of elections in September.Several of the defendants did confess to having been in Iraq to fight U.S. troops there and had Iraqi stamps on their passport, the court heard. “But this does not violate [Yemeni] law,” the judge said.
“Islamic Sharia law permits jihad against occupiers,” he said.
Mohammed al-Maqaleh, an expert in Islamist affairs who frequently appears in Yemeni media, described the verdict as a “shock.”
“The judiciary is collaborating with the Islamist extremists and this verdict is politicized,” al-Maqaleh said on the telephone. He said it was another sign that President Ali Abdullah Saleh was trying to drum up support from Muslim radicals ahead of the coming presidential elections.
Long story short…give the base what they want.
What’s ironic is that in this country, where our freedoms are far more than those in Yemen, these suspected al Qaeda members would be labelled enemy combatants and wouldn’t have access to lawyers.
Given the choice between this decision in Yemen and our policy, which would you choose?
This entry was posted on Sunday, July 9th, 2006 and is filed under The War On Terrorism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
July 11th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
What’s really sad is that that I am not surprised.
July 15th, 2006 at 8:06 am
ahGood day,
l and my mother want you to call us on this telephone
number,TEL:+229 93235327 BININ COTONUE, for proper arrangement and more
details, on how you can help us move the sum of fifty-six million
united state dollars(56 M USD)from a private security trust firm
to your COUNTRY for savety and investment.
Your share for this help will be 20 % of the total money of fifty-six
million united state dollars.
I am waiting to hear from you you receieved this mail for more details.
The few story is bellow.
__________________________________________________________________
My name is Merit, daugther of David EMEDIKE.
Sometime back the community leader and leading diamond merchant in the
town of Bin Houye a diamond rich town in cote d’ voure 37 km from the
Liberian border,with the help of Liberian government seized the
town,and where burning houses and other properties setting of whole
families on fire.
according to Router’s radio network monitored the loyalist have killed
some entire important families and they are burning all the houses in
Bin Houye .
Since that time till now, we have not hear or set eyes on my father,
means he is death.
Right now I with my mother in are leaving in shack and object poverty
in BININ COTONUE, as we excapt from My town after the news that we may be captured too for my father’s sake.
As God will have it, we ran into a good family friend here in COTONUE
who took it upone himself taking care of us and keep us in his house.
Although I did not in any way disclose to anybody even him the details
of this proposal due to confidential nature of it.
Meanwhile in the key days of our family business my father’s trading
company, jemina investment, had over time deposited the sum of fifty-
six million united state dollars(56 M USD) in a private security trust
firm here right now.
What we seek and seek desperately a trusted foreigner who is
completely unconnected to all these carnage happenings in Africa, who
can be lmpowered and entrusted with the responsibility expecially
and moving the box to your country and safety for some investment in your country or a better please you may advise.
Later lf the boxes secured with you,l and my mother will make travel
arrangements to join you in your.
This transaction requires absolute honesty and trust please consider
that first and let us know lf we can cofined in you.
Call us on this telephone for more clarifications and proper
aggreement .
TEL:+229 93235327
Best regards,
Miss.Merit EMEDIKE.