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Malaysia Sends Militant Suspect Back to United States
Thursday, October 10, 2002
By Simon Cameron-Moore
Reuters

"There is no chance of a fair hearing in the U.S. climate of anti-islam," said the statement, which added that the allegations were based on "hysteria and paranoia against Islamic groups or anyone who sports a beard and wears a turban."

KUALA LUMPUR -- Reuters
Malaysia on Thursday deported an American wanted in the United States on suspicion of belonging to a terrorist group, U.S. and Malaysian officials said.

Californian-born Ahmed Ibrahim Bilal, 24, was named by U.S. authorities as one of six members of a "suspected terrorist cell" and is accused of conspiring last year to join al Qaeda and Taliban forces fighting U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

"He has been removed to the United States," U.S. embassy spokesman Frank Whitaker told Reuters.

Whitaker said U.S. officials had no access to Bilal until he was handed over to them on Thursday morning to be sent home, where he could face life imprisonment if charged with terrorism offences and found guilty.

* "NO CHANCE OF FAIR TRIAL"
(More: The Macon Telegraph News Source)
2002 © Reuters, Ltd.

Dan