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November 5, 2006
Yemen: Nineteen Suspected Islamists Acquitted
News from Xinhua and Washington Times relates that a trial in Sanaa, Yemen, came to an end yesterday. 19 individuals, including 5 Saudis, had been accused on terrorism charges. They are all suspected Al Qaeda operatives.
The men had been accused of plotting attacks against US interests in Yemen. They were said to have been acting on the instructions of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed in Iraq by a US bomb in June.
The men had formerly been tried and acquitted in June, but the state prosecutor had demanded a retrial.
Yesterday (Saturday November 4), the presiding judge of the appeals court said that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the 19 made up an armed cell, and the case was dismissed.
SIx of the accused were found guilty of possessing forged documents, including passports. Two were given three year jail terms, and the other four were sentenced to the length of time that they had already spent in custody, and were released.
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Three Australian Muslims are currently in custody in Yemen. Arrested a fortnight ago, they are accused of plotting to smuggle arms to Somalia. The men are Mohammed and Abdullah Ayub, and Marat Sumolsky.
The Melbourne Age, the Courier Mail and the Australian report that Australian consular officials based in Saudi Arabia were able to visit the three Muslims. Previous attempts to make contact with them had been hindered by the Eid (post-Ramadan) festivities.
The three Australians were among a group of eight foreigners who were arrested.
A spokesman for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said: "At this stage the Yemeni authorities have not confirmed the nature of the charges the men may be facing, we will continue to press the Yemeni authorities on the nature of the charges and the legal processes they will be subjected to."
"The consul is maintaining close contact with the men's families in Yemen and consular officials in Canberra are in close contact with the families in Australia."
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 5, 2006 4:32 PM
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