Posted on 09/26/2005 9:10:36 AM PDT by Mount Athos
Arab satellite broadcaster Al Jazeera denounced the sentencing of its correspondent in Spain on Monday to seven years in jail on terrorism charges.
Tayseer Alouni, 50, was found guilty by Spain's High Court of collaborating with a terrorist group but acquitted of being a member of al Qaeda. He was among 18 people sentenced at the trial, the biggest of suspected Islamist militants in Europe.
"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.
The court also sentenced the alleged leader of al Qaeda in Spain, Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas, to 27 years in prison, finding he conspired with the Sept. 11 plotters but cleared him of murder in connection with the attacks.
Sheikh said Alouni's family would appeal against the verdict. Al Jazeera, which is based in Qatar, also said he should be released on bail for health reasons pending a hearing.
Alouni, a Syrian with Spanish citizenship, had told the court he delivered $4,000 to Yarkas but said he was doing a favour for an acquaintance. He denied close ties to Yarkas.
Let's see if their appeasement of terror in the elections, in the wake of the train bombings, will save them now.
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