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[JURIST] The Federal Supreme Court of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) [JURIST news archive] on Monday convicted an American citizen of engaging in terrorist activities and sentenced him to 18 months in prison. Naji Hamdan, who confessed to the terrorist activities while being tortured, pleaded not guilty [AP report] at the trial. Hamdan consistently denied the charges, claiming his confessions were coerced through torture. Hamdan expressed disappointment at the conviction, which cannot be appealed. His family said they expect his release soon [AFP report], as he has already been in prison for 14 months.
Hamdan faced three separate charges of terrorism, including providing financial support for attacks against Israel and being connected to al-Qaeda in Iraq. Despite being of Lebanese descent, Hamdan lived for 20 years in the US. The FBI questioned Hamdan [BBC report] in 1999 regarding his connection to terrorist organizations. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) [official website] suspected the US government of pushing the case onto UAE officials because it did not have enough evidence to charge Hamdan. The ACLU asked for the US government to intervene [press release], but the request was denied in August.
The Terrorist got off easy….He should have been hung like Saadam!
In my opinion, UAE just fullfill the deal with USA. USA is eclusive market leader in almost all fields from soft drinks to jet fighters. People buy all possible in hope it will keep them safe but it is wrong position.
I am afraid in the case of this men there is no much options except applying for getting back Lebanese citizenship or giving all he has to FBI. If we are noticed all well there is no homeless terrorists. He must own something or be capable to get something- community leader, imam, teacher, doctore etc.
In respect to Sadam I belive it is shame but when I read on US death rows I do understand the whole well.
http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090930_8718.php
Long time I did not visite better blog.
from 1 to 5 it should get whole 5.
http://theasiandefence.blogspot.com/search/label/Middle%20East
@ “army 1″ – why is it when American soldiers fight – even when it is an offensive war, not to defend anything, they are called heroes and patriots? When Muslims defend their lands and their people – they are called “terrorist”? Since I see you’ve used the term, perhaps you can answer that question for me.
@ Observer – thank you for your good comments, and the link. I appreciate all your very good and thoughtful comments. Thank you.
“Confession coerced through torture” should say it all – it seems to me as if our country’s values have deteriorated past the point of no return. The WMD which justified our invasion of Iraq is now known as a lie – and IMO if any war in the ME were to make any sense whatsoever we would have invaded Saudi Arabia since almost all the 911 attacks were supposedly committed by Saudis.
I cannot for the life of me get past the deep suspicion that the need to ditch our own rule of law – is not to gain information about terrorist plots but everything to do with an executive branch power grab. The Patriot Act gave GW and now gives his successor – another president using unconstitutional signing statements – enormous power.
IF I were suspicious before, the timing of the recent arrest of a Dallas terrorist suspect seems mighty damn convenient & thus suspicious if you ask me. I’m afraid the DemoCraps are so intent upon building more support for an unpopular war that I think they could have planted the fake bomb on the “suspect” the way cops have been known to plant guns or drugs upon a suspect for their own motives – often racism. I distrust our government far more than I do the so called Muslim terrorists. Our wars in the Middle East are still based upon the last Administration’s lies to perpetrate what I think amount to “corporate wars” by politicos intent upon pleasing their corporate paymasters.
It’s so sad to read the comment of Army1 !
I hope you/any human do not pass through what I went through.
under the extreme torture of UAE’s state security observed, sadly, by US officials; I think you should be mad at our government breaking every single law in the book, not judging me from reading three lines in an article!
Read my story and all the articles about my case well before you hang me, friend.
Many thanks for freedetainees.org and its moderators, and every one who stood by my side, people I don’t know but got free minds like; Observer,Dazeylin, and Kathleen Bushman.