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| Down Under |
| Australian Terror suspect left in cell in underwear |
| 2006-03-31 |
| A MAN accused of being a member of a terrorist organisation was left in a cell in his underwear after a dispute with prison officers today, a court has been told. Abdulla Merhi, 20, of Fawkner is one of 10 Melbourne men charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation. Eight of the men have also been charged with financing a terrorist organisation. Rob Stary, representing Merhi and seven other defendants, told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court that there had been a dispute between his clients and prison guards this morning over what the prisoners should wear to court. Mr Stary said the accused had been in jail for six months and their civilian clothes were soiled and musty. They asked if they could attend in their prison garb but were refused permission. Mr Stary said that in the course of the dispute, Merhi was left in a cell in his underwear for up to an hour. "Obviously, there was a sense of degradation and humiliation on his part," he told the court. The dispute held up proceedings in court one for close to two hours, with only four of the accused – wearing civilian clothes – eventually attending. One of the four was the alleged leader of the group, Muslim preacher Abdul Nacer Benbrika, 46, of Dallas, who has also been charged with directing a terrorist organisation. Before Magistrate Paul Smith entered the court room, Benbrika – flanked by security in the dock – silenced the courtroom. "This life is very short," he said. "Everyone is going to die but the best of us." The end of his statement was indecipherable and was interrupted by the arrival of the magistrate. The case was adjourned for another committal mention on April 28 and booked in for a committal beginning in the County Court on June 14. Outside the court, Mr Stary said his clients had asked for their clothes to be cleaned but their request was refused. He said his clients had wanted to wear prison garb as a protest about their treatment in prison. "It's the only thing they can do to protest against their circumstances," he said. |
| Posted by:Oztrailan |
| #13 Wow an hour. A whole hour. The humanity. The woe. The humilyislam of it all. Allan forbid! |
| Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2006-03-31 20:14 |
| #12 Oh the humanity! Must be a slow news day down under. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-03-31 20:00 |
| #11 Did they make him wear them on his head? I hear that's a big, big Muzzie insult. But what isn't... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-03-31 15:38 |
| #10 thong. Aye, there's the rub |
| Posted by: eLarson 2006-03-31 15:21 |
| #9 boxers or briefs? |
| Posted by: USN, ret. 2006-03-31 14:14 |
| #8 "This life is very short," he said. "Everyone is going to die but the best of us." I believe that statement could be construed as a guilty plea and request for immediate execution by hanging. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-03-31 10:59 |
| #7 Just go through the list of all the things that Adrian Monk is afraid of, and those are the things that shame and humiliate Muslims. Let's start with glaciers. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2006-03-31 08:48 |
| #6 DB Anything which is not news worthy. |
| Posted by: Whineper Spains3451 2006-03-31 08:47 |
| #5 What doesn't degrade and humiliate Muslims? |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2006-03-31 08:29 |
| #4 Even Saddam Hussein managed to hand wash his own clothes while imprisoned. We've seen the [unfortunate] photos that prove it. Of course, Mr. Hussein is a secular Arab fascist, so perhaps that's the explanation. What spoiled little brats. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-03-31 07:14 |
| #3 You'd never be left in your pants under Sharia law - you'd be dead. |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2006-03-31 03:39 |
| #2 So let's give the little wart some Islamic justice. |
| Posted by: Listen to Dogs 2006-03-31 02:01 |
| #1 Mr Stary said that in the course of the dispute, Merhi was left in a cell in his underwear for up to an hour. "Obviously, there was a sense of degradation and humiliation on his part," he told the court. LOL! what a hoot. 'O the shame of nasty privies on the head. Benbrika This life is very short," he said. "Everyone is going to die but the best of us." huh? well you will anyway Benbrika, by slo humiliating panty shame. |
| Posted by: RD 2006-03-31 01:07 |