The pan-Arab TV channel Jazeera condemned a Spanish court's finding Monday that one of its journalists had collaborated with terrorists, accusing the judges of violating legal principles. âIt was a black day in the history of Spanish justice,â Jazeera news editor Ahmed Sheikh told the channel from Madrid minutes after the court sentenced Tayssir Alouni to seven years' imprisonment for âcollaboration with a terrorist organisation.â Alouni became famous in the Arab world as Jazeera's correspondent in Kabul during the US-backed offensive against the Taleban government in 2001. Shortly after the September 11 attacks on the United States, he interviewed Al Qaeda leader Osama Ben Laden. A Syrian who also holds Spanish citizenship, Alouni was one of 24 defendants who stood trial in Madrid's national court on charges related to the September 11 attacks and membership in Al Qaeda terror network. He had pleaded innocent, denying that he ever belonged to Al Qaeda.
In a statement issued in Doha, Jazeera said it was âsurprised and deeply disappointed by the court's decision.â It said Jazeera would support Alouni and his family's decision to appeal the verdict and was in consultation with the defence team. âThe channel views the incident as a dangerous precedent for the profession of journalism and journalists across the world who go to great lengths on a daily basis to bring coverage on critical issues,â the statement said. âJazeera reiterates its support for Mr Alouni and his professional integrity and courage as a journalist.â The station also asked Spain's judiciary to release Alouni on bail for health reasons, saying he had a heart condition. Sheikh, the news editor, said Alouni's wife and a representative of the Arab Human Rights Organisation had already told the judge they planned to appeal.