Alouni's Verdict.Freedom of Expression Concerns

Alouni's Verdict.Freedom of Expression Concerns

Doha, September 26, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - The ruling by a
Spanish court Monday, September 26, to send Al-Jazeera reporter Tayseer
Alouni to seven-year-term in jail drew fiery reactions from the all-news
channel, media groups and law experts, who all dismissed the verdict as
politically motivated and a "dangerous precedent" in the field of reporting.

"It sets a dangerous precedent, particularly for anyone who seeks to
interview bin Laden in the future," said Jean-Francois Julliard, news editor
of Reporters Without Borders, a leading Paris-based media watchdog group.

Doha-based Al-Jazeera denounced the sentencing of its correspondent, asking
the court to consider Alouni's deteriorating health condition and release
him on bail.

According to Reuters, Alouni was found guilty by Spain's High Court of
"collaborating" with a terrorist group but acquitted of being a member of
Al-Qaeda.

The court, however, did not explain the reason behind the accusations and it
did not explain what it means by the word "collaboration," said Fatima,
Alouni's wife to Al-Jazeera.

He was among 18 people sentenced at the trial, the biggest of suspected
"Islamist militants" in Europe, reported Reuters.

In response to the Court's accusation of acting as a financial courier to
Al-Qaeda while in Afghanistan, Alouni told the court he delivered $4,000 to
Yarkas, also known as Abu Dahdah, but said he was doing a favor for an
acquaintance. He denied close ties to Yarkas, reported Reuters.

The court ruled that prosecutors had not proved that Yarkas took part in the
Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center.

However, it claimed that there was evidence that he was aware of the
"sinister plans" for the attacks and he had helped think up the plot,
working with a radical cell in Hamburg.

An interview with Bin Laden, five weeks after the attacks on the United
States on Sept. 11, 2001, was the prelude to Alouni's arrest and later
charge with "terrorist activities".

Black Day

Al-Jazeera described the verdict as "unfair."

"This is a black day for the Spanish judiciary which has deviated from all
the norms of international justice," Al-Jazeera news editor Ahmed al-Sheikh
told the station.

"It is a verdict that is based on circumstantial evidence at best. This
verdict is a big shock for us. We are convinced of Tayseer's innocence," he
added from Madrid, where he attended the sentencing, reported Reuters.

"We still believe that our colleague Taysseer is innocent of the charges
against him," Al-Jazeera director general Waddah Khanfar told Agence France-
Presse (AFP).

A European media watchdog said the decision to jail him would set alarm
bells ringing among investigative journalists.

"Journalists have always investigated terrorist groups and their activities.
It's part of our job," said Jean-Francois Julliard, news editor of Reporters
without Borders.

Fadi Al-Qadi, spokesman of the Human Rights Watch, criticized the measures
taken by Spain in fighting terrorism, describing them as "Extremist
measures" to fight extremism.

He also dubbed Alouni's sentence as politically motivated.

The Arab Committee for defending Journalists, on its part, condemned the
court's decision, saying that it is a "politicized" one, subjected to
political manipulation.

Robert Show, spokesman of the International Association for Journalism told
Al-Jazeera the court was biased in issuing its decision and that Tayseer
should be bailed out.

He further said on a live program Monday that it will be ridiculous to deny
that being a Muslim Arab and working for an Arab news channel has nothing to
do with Tayseer's case.

Appeals

According to AFP, Al-Jazeera vowed to appeal the "unfair" conviction and
sentencing of Alouni for allegedly collaborating with Al-Qaeda.

"The verdict is very disappointing and we consider it unfair and we will
contact immediately the legal defense team to study the possibilities of
appealing it," Khanfar told AFP.

Fatima, Alouni's wife, told Al-Jazeera she would appeal before other courts
until her husband is out.

Many legal experts said that the court's verdict in the case of Alouni can
be appealed.

First arrested in September 2003, Alouni was later released on bail on
health grounds as he suffers from a weak heart and back problems, only to be
arrested again and jailed in Madrid in November 2004.

He was released to house arrest in March but taken back into custody on
September 16.

http://islamonline.net/English/News/2005-09/26/article09.shtml



.

Relevant Pages

  • Alounis Verdict.Freedom of Expression Concerns
    ... Spanish court Monday, September 26, to send Al-Jazeera reporter Tayseer ... Alouni to seven-year-term in jail drew fiery reactions from the all-news ... It's part of our job," said Jean-Francois Julliard, news editor of Reporters ...
    (soc.culture.jordan)
  • Obscenity trial halted after judges porn site revealed
    ... The chief judge in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Alex Kozinski, has ... When first confronted by the Times' reporters, the judge said he would take ... some images down, and he later had public access to the site blocked. ...
    (misc.taxes)
  • In the News: Court TV barred from televising Dovers intelligent design trial
    ... Tighter rules for reporters' testimony ... trial in federal court, a judge has ruled that Court TV cannot ... Courtroom Television Network LLC filed a motion with the ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Court Okays Look at NY Times Phone Records
    ... Federal prosecutors investigating a leak about a terrorism funding ... A panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned on a 2-1 ... likely to go anywhere without help from the reporters or access to ... U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet ruled that the government had failed ...
    (comp.dcom.telecom)