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A free man
A terrorist walks. From AP, with thanks to Jeffrey Imm and DC Watson:
HAMBURG, Germany - The only Sept. 11 suspect convicted was freed by a court Wednesday, pending the outcome of his retrial on charges of aiding the Hamburg al-Qaida cell that included three of the suicide pilots.Mounir el Motassadeq, 30, smiled broadly as he left the Hamburg prison where he had been held since November 2001. He walked past reporters without comment before his friends and lawyer whisked him away in a car to an unknown location.
Lawyer Josef Graessle-Muenscher said el Motassadeq was returning to his wife and two children in Hamburg.
"When I went to pick him up, he was happy and smiling at me," the lawyer told reporters. "Now he's going home to his family."
Explaining the decision, judges said their suspicion that Mounir El Motassadeq could be guilty of more than 3,000 counts of accessory to murder had lessened. He was ordered to stay in Hamburg and report to police twice a week.
El Motassadeq, 30, has acknowledged training at an al-Qaida camp in Afghanistan and being friends with Hamburg-based hijackers Mohamed Atta, Marwan al-Shehhi and Ziad Jarrah, but denies any knowledge of the Sept. 11 plot.
He has been serving a maximum 15-year prison term in a Hamburg prison since a court in the city convicted him in February 2003 of giving logistical help to the al-Qaida cell. He was expected to be released later Wednesday.
The decision was a fresh setback for prosecutions of Sept. 11 suspects after the same Hamburg court acquitted el Motassadeq's friend and fellow Moroccan Abdelghani Mzoudi of identical charges in February.
An appeals court last month threw out el Motassadeq's conviction and ordered a retrial starting June 16, saying he was denied a fair trial because the U.S. government refused access to a key witness in its custody.
He still faces charges of membership in a terrorist organization, court spokeswoman Sabine Westphalen said. But the original arrest warrant's "urgent suspicion" that he was guilty of being an accessory to murder was downgraded Wednesday to "adequate suspicion," she said.Prosecutors say el Motassadeq was privy to the plot to attack the United States and helped cell members conceal their involvement while they lived and studied in Hamburg.
They say the former electrical engineering student took care of financial matters for alleged cell member Zakariya Essabar. He also is accused of helping cell members elude the watch of authorities by finding them a room in student housing and allowing al-Shehhi and Atta to use his Hamburg mailing address while they took flying lessons in the United States.
The federal court that threw out his conviction last month cited the absence of testimony by Ramzi Binalshibh. The Yemeni, captured in Pakistan on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks and now in U.S. custody, is believed to have been the Hamburg cell's main contact with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network.
Binalshibh might be able to testify that el Motassadeq knew nothing of the plot, the Moroccan's lawyers say.
Federal prosecutors can appeal the decision to free el Motassedeq until his appeal. The Hamburg court said the risk that el Motassadeq could flee was lessened by the conditions of his release, which bar him from obtaining a passport and require him to live in the same apartment as his wife and notify the court of any change of residence.
New evidence that could help el Motassadeq at his retrial emerged at a Hamburg court hearing Friday where lawyers sought his release.
The court was presented with an intercepted 2003 telephone call in which suspected cell member Said Bahaji told his wife that he and others close to the hijackers knew nothing of the planned attacks. Also presented was a 2002 letter from Bahaji to his mother in which he wrote "Mounir didn't know anything," an attorney said.
German authorities say Bahaji, a suspected cell logistician, left Germany shortly before the Sept. 11 attacks and remains on the run.
El Motassadeq lived with his wife and children in an apartment near Hamburg's Technical University, where he studied before his November 2001 arrest. His attorney said he is expected to resume living with his family at a different location that he would not disclose.
The absence of testimony from Binalshibh also helped bring about Mzoudi's acquittal in February.
Mzoudi's case turned in his favor when the Hamburg court heard a statement from an unidentified source that only Binalshibh and the suicide hijackers knew of the Sept. 11 plot — which could also exonerate el Motassadeq. The court said it believed the source was Binalshibh himself.
Posted by Robert at April 7, 2004 9:46 AM
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"A terrorist walks..."
I don't understand, you started off your article with "a terrorist".... IF THE LAW AND COURT HAS DECIDED HE IS INNOCENT, AFTER THE MAN WAS JAIL SINCE 2001 , WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY HE IS A TERRORIST??? Is just because he is Muslim and that's all???
Stop hiding behind the Islamic Religion. He's a terrorist, if you'll notice, genius, he is up for re-trial and is not allowed to leave the city, having to report in twice per week.
What a shame it is for these killers to stoop so low as to hide behind a Psycho named Muhammad and a black rock named Allah. The world is tired of these bastards, and they will all soon be turned to dust.
Stop using Islam and Muslim as a form of complete innocence.
Posted by: Terry Stellato at April 7, 2004 11:31 AMI don't think anyone said or believes he is innocent.
Considering that the majority of terrorist are born out of Islam.... Well I think its a safe bet.
Posted by: Wild Hare at April 7, 2004 11:42 AMYes, itīs just because heīs a muslim. Youīre right. And of course this poor guy was also tried just because heīs a muslim, like all the millions of other muslims in germany are also tried at the moment for being muslims. The german government announced yesterday that itīs going to build additional courts to trie all those poor people.
Of course, it doesnīt have anything to do with the fact the he had contact with the people responsible for 9/11. I mean: The people who are said to have committed 9/11. (But we know that it actually was the Mossad, right?)
I canīt understand those stupid people in the west. That they are even considering a muslim was able of such a crime, while we all know that islam is a... no: Is THE religion of peace.
When are you Muslims going to wake up and realize the world is ON TO YOU AND YOUR RELIGON...You are terrorists who worship your god using terror as a religious right and DUTY. You see honor in the murder of innocent people, who according to your religion, are not innocent simply because they are NOT MUSLIMS...
You are a people without compassion or justice or mercy. A people that take satisfaction in mutilating corpses for the cameras all the while laughing and rejoicing.You could get no lower than this but I guess you could EAT THE DEAD BODIES TOO!!!
The fact that you hate your enemies more than you love your own children tells the world exactly what they need to know about you and your religion. Come on now...14 year old suicide bombers??
I would like to be able to apologize to any moderate Muslims that might be reading this, But I fail to see any moderate Muslims around..Where are they?? Why don't we hear them condemning the vicious acts of violence and murder being committed in their gods name? I have a hunch that the "moderate" Muslims is simply backslidden compromised Muslims hiding in the West hoping to go unnoticed.
Islam is NOT a Peaceful religion...It is a religion that says SUMBIT to our god or pay! The only mercy your false god bestows is on Muslims and then only on special Muslims that tow the mark and tickle your fickle gods fancy, like suicide bombers...
Note please: It is not the Jews or the Christians you need to be concerned with...Be concerned with the everyday citizens of the world that will soon enough, have had enough of your barbaric insanity and simply take the necessary steps to relegate Islam to the dung heap of history where all the other failed attempts to conqueror the world ended. Look around do you see Hitler or the Nazi's anywhere ruling anything?? Hint Hint...
Posted by: Susan at April 7, 2004 12:53 PMlol...SHAME ON U...!!!!
Posted by: wewilcrushthecrusadersandsionit at April 7, 2004 1:02 PMAnother example of manipulation of our institutions for use in their nefarious plots. They may operate with impunity knowing that they have the right to confront witnesses that conveniently disappear or are taken into custody elsewhere, as is Binalshibh, that is being held for security reasons.
Knowing this they will continue to scheme and carry out plans to cause us harm. They walk the streets secure in the knowledge that our rule of law won't touch them as long as they manipulate the game rules.
Posted by: epg at April 7, 2004 1:14 PMTo Injustice: Bullseye, that was a great post.
Posted by: Terry Stellato at April 7, 2004 1:15 PMNo Muslim....THE SHAME IS ON YOU!
PS: The Crusades might look like a walk in the park compared to what the motivated free world can do to you.... You know, modern weapons and all....The time is fast approaching when the world will finally come to grips with the fact that you fight FIRE WITH FIRE..Defense against terror does not work...Offense in the form of preemptive action will work...Anyway only time will tell, tick tock....
Posted by: Susan at April 7, 2004 1:19 PMCrush the Crusaders........stop with the Arabic chatter, and bring yourselves to fight like men, not sissies that hide behind the skirts of women in your communities. It happened in Somalia, and it's happening in Iraq. Using women and children as human shields......what a band of spinless losers, shut up, go bathe, and while you're at it, thoroughly soak your head.
The Muslim women over there should realize that their males aren't men. They have no soul, and no courage. To hide behind a woman or a child makes them just one thing: A bitch
Posted by: TerryStellato at April 7, 2004 1:27 PMAleph, thank you very much for finally getting it: I work from one simple premise:
All muslims are potential enemies until proven otherwise. Sorry about your luck. Clean up your own house, then we can talk.
Posted by: Doug at April 7, 2004 1:51 PMThe Europeans and the liberals are always saying that you can't fight Islamic terrorism with military solutions. They say we must use security services and due legal process as the most rational response.
Well, this is what due legal processes results in, especially in wimpy Europe. Do they think the terrorists are frightened by these Keystone Kops antics of our legal systems?
Posted by: Other Susan at April 7, 2004 2:03 PMwow lol, the hate in a lot of those comments are "to the max". I know some loser is gonna comment after me and say "YES WE HATE YOU".
I want to Ask one question however, and PLEASE answer it instead of just talking and ranting about other unrelated things.
do ALL OF YOU believe that "America" has done NOTHING to (not deserve, cause 9/11 was unjustified) rather to instigate such actions against it?
Yes or no, that is all i wish to know.
Posted by: Omar at April 7, 2004 2:58 PMOmar - This has nothing to do with hate. But, before 9/11 we didn't have a clue, and after 9/11, we still don't. We don't consider civilians to be military targets.
We believe emphatically that America did not deserve the actions of the 9/11 murder terrorists.
Before 9/11 most of us didn't think about Islam or did we even care what religion people have, which should be a private matter. Now, however, we are becoming informed. Perhaps the 9/11 event, a tragedy, was a blessing in disguise. People are waking up to the threat.
Other events could occur, but none will have the pshycological effect of 9/11. You blew your chance.
Posted by: epg at April 7, 2004 3:15 PMOmar, nothing this nation does, or has ever done, warrants the actions of coward Islamists on 9/11/01. You people all think you're victims of the United States, when in truth you're victims of your own religion and dictatorships.
Hussein, Arafat, and the rest are embezzlers, and murderers, keeping the poor man down and building fortunes for themselves. Shove your stupid comments up your sorry ass. And no, I don't hate you. I just want you arabs and muslims to stop tossing blame on the west for your own stupid ass mistakes.
Here's a novel idea, how bout Islam starts to admit that they too can make mistakes, that they are not perfect, and take responsibility for their own misfortunes instead of blaming someone else for their losses. We owe you arab and muslims not one damn thing.
Posted by: TerryStellato at April 7, 2004 3:23 PMOmar:
I'll answer that with a clear and definite NO. Here's my reasoning. We buy oil from the Middle East because we need it for our economy. Our oil companies pay good money for that. We do not control what the various rulers of the Middle East do with this money. But the USA, because we stand for freedom and democracy, are attacked for not supporting more democracy in the Middle East. But democracy grows out of cultural values that are lacking in the islamic world. The history of the islamic world supports autocracies, pashas, sultans, emirs, etc with absolute power. The only limit to their power has historically been the religious institutions, i.e. the mullahs. Islam does not have a separation between church and state, and recognizes only 'Shariah' as ultimately valid. The values of the West, and spec the USA are opposed to this.The islamic world cannot accept psychologically how far it has fallen behind and contains much anger, resentment and bitterness. This is focussed by its tyrannical rulers upon Israel and the USA. These are the convenient scapegoats for islamic rage. The islamic world is fundamentally dishonest in its motives and lacking in ability to recognize its flaws, and then to fix them. To use a much abused term, you're all in DENIAL and instead of focussing upon fixing your own mess, you blame us. It's so easy, so simple, and it makes you feel good. But it also keeps you enslaved to you own myopic consciousness.
Islam needs a Reformation siimilar to the Christian Reformation begun by Luther in the 16th Century. This broke the political power of the Catholic Church and freed up the consciousness of the West. The ultimate expression of the Western spirit of freedom is found within the Constitution of the USA. We have freedom of religion, tolerance, ethnic diversity, etc. It has not come easy, and it's imperfect, but we have it. We also have a critical media, and a critical people who are not afraid to speak their minds. Our newspapers heap daily cartoon insults upon our leaders, and they accept it as the price of leadership. All of this gives the West, esp the USA a built-in feedback loop. We know about the mistakes and atrocities committed by US governments in the past. We know about the CIA's activities in the overthrow of the SHah, etc. We know about this, and talk about it, and it creates a common memory that we as a people draw upon in making decisions. This is our 'Ace inthe hole', our secret weapon. It's called freedom of expression, and, learning from your mistakes.
The islamic world has nothing like this and cannot fathom it. It stands at a crossroads with modernity and doesn't know whether to move forwards or backwards. All its anger and frustration is now directed at Israel and its patron, The Great Satan, the USA. The Islamic world also uses the freedoms and technologies of the West to attack the West. Incapable of creating anything other than the oil exports, it understands its cultural and political inadequacies, but is not honest enough to admit this and to make the necessary changes.
It's pathetic, sad, and disturbing.
Omar, we in the USA did not deserve 911, or anything like it. But let me tell you, as a political independent with a liberal background, I support the full and complete use of our military and economic power to locate and destroy anybody who attacks us. Right now our military is on a very tight leash. The islamic world sees this as weakness. It cannot understand that our desire for compromise as anything other than weakness. You don't understand us.
But there will come a time, if current trends continue, that the USA will truly and completely unleash the dogs of war, and Islamic terrorists and apologists will find no safe haven, except six feet underground. If the ISlamic world moves into full identification with Islamic Fascism and terrorism and continues its program of terrorism, then, at some point, it will experience its own version of Hiroshima. This may not happen until, God forbid, a terrorist explodes a nuclear device within the USA, but should this sad day ever come the Islamic World will weep at its fundamental selfish stupidity and immaturity that will have brought it to ruin. And all in the name of 'Allah'! Have you any idea just how sick and twisted the Islamic world is? For God's sake, wake up! Stop blaming us for your problems!
Mike H
To: "wewill crushyadayada".... sticks and stones... Notice he is pending retrial. The fat lady ain't even warmed up yet.
Posted by: Hal at April 7, 2004 5:18 PMOmar, if you're going where I think you're going--Israel--sorry, but that dog won't hunt. That's a convenient excuse used to give islamists a veneer of respectability in the so-called "world community." The Euros bought that line of reasoning hook, line, and sinker.
But the bottom line is that even if Israel did not exist, islamists would still hate us because we are infidels. All I can say is that I glory in being considered an infidel by bin laden and his ilk.
As for hate, I hate no individual. I DO, however, hate islamist ideology. And because islamism seems to be in the ascendant at this point, I simply no longer trust any muslim at all. That is entirely my right.
Posted by: Doug at April 7, 2004 7:39 PMThe germans are politically correct,but they are not stupid.
If they left this guy walk,they have strong reasons to do so.
I bet that this bozo struck a deal with the german inteligence service and now he will have to start working against his muslim brethren.
And if he tries to double cross us,there is always the retrial,or even a bullit between the eyes....
Time will tell.
WHEN WILL YOU LEARN....THAT THE GERMANS ARE NOT OUR FRIENDS, HAVE NEVER BEEN OUR FRIENDS, AND WILL NEVER BE OUR FRIENDS.
JUDY WEISMONGER
Posted by: Judy at April 8, 2004 5:03 PMJudy,
You're wrong about that. I spent a lot of time in Germany and there is a strong affection for the US among many Germans.
Mike H
Posted by: Michael Hartrich at April 8, 2004 8:38 PM

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