Posted on 07/05/2002 3:02:03 PM PDT by knighthawk
ISLAMABAD, July 5 (IslamOnline) – The prime suspect in the killing of U.S. reporter Daniel Pearl, on Friday, July 5, warned the American government that the Israeli treatment of Palestinians could bring more 9/11 like strikes.
Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, 28, facing trial for allegedly kidnapping and killing the U.S. reporter, issued a statement to the Pakistani media through his lawyer Friday saying the United States “deserved” the September 11 strikes and a repeat of the same could take place anytime.
His lawyers are wrapping up their arguments before a special trial court seized with the hearing of Pearl murder case in the southern district of Hyderabad. If convicted Omar Sheik, a British-born Muslim, and three others face the death penalty. The case is expected to be concluded as early as Tuesday next but announcement of the verdict is the prerogative of the court. It can issue a judgment the same day or reserve it to be announced later. The case took off initially at Karachi in early April but later was moved to Hyderabad for security reasons.
Omar warned in his statement that the new attacks against the United States could come because of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians and U.S. military action in Afghanistan.
Referring to the killing of over 40 civilians in the central Afghanistan last Sunday, Omar wrote in his own handwriting, "following the heinous and barbaric bombardment on a wedding ceremony in Afghanistan in which a large number of women and children were killed and the demolishing of houses by Israelis in Palestine, Americans should have realized by now that whatever happened on September 11, they deserved that and it will happen in the future as well."
Under heavy security prison, proceeding of the murder case are closed for reporters and general public and the lawyers from prosecution and defense brief reporters.
Omar and other three defendants have pleaded that evidence against them was fabricated and false witnesses were used to trap them is a baseless case.
The prosecution has alleged that Omar planned the kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl and executed with the help of other co-accused on January 23. A video received by the U.S. consulate late February showed Pearl's decapitation by hidden assailants.
Pakistan (Omar Saeed Sheikh said the U.S. deserved Sept. 11 attacks.)
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