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| Terror Networks |
| Death sentence may prevent NZ deporting Zaoui |
| 2002-12-17 |
| New Zealand may find it difficult to deport an Algerian asylum seeker linked to terrorist acts because of a death sentence hanging over his head. Ahmed Zaoui, a member of a fundamentalist Islamic political party and suspected of civilian killings in Europe, arrived at Auckland Airport a week ago from Malaysia. Speaking French, he gave himself up to immigration authorities. He had destroyed his South African travel documents during the flight to New Zealand. It is understood that Zaoui, who has been sentenced to death in Algeria, is seeking political asylum. "Hi! I'm here! Take care of me! By the way, which way to the mosque?" Zaoui was transferred to Paremoremo prison, where he remains. "Hey! This ain't no mosque!" Under international conventions that New Zealand recognises, anyone who is party to terrorist acts, including by association to terrorist groups, or poses a risk to national security, need not be accepted as a refugee. Although New Zealand is not allowed to extradite people to their home country if they face the death penalty there, it can expel them to a third country. Which can dump them back to where they can get the old neck stretched... A University of Auckland "Nope. Nope. Couldn't do that. We'll have to keep him, even if he does kill babies..." Zaoui is allegedly linked to the militant Armed Islamic Group (GIA), which has been fighting a bitter civil war to restore democracy in Algeria. GIA has been blamed for terrorist acts, including the 1997 Paris Metro bombing that killed eight people. Zaoui has denied involvement with the group. "Nope. Not me. I wouldn't do that kind of stuff. I got a honest fez, don't it?" Dr Buchanan said the Algerian Government had tried Zaoui in absentia for terrorism, convicted him and imposed the death sentence. But it had never been proven that he was responsible for any terrorist acts, Dr Buchanan said. "Certainly not to my satisfaction. Those photos were entirely too grainy to be 100 percent sure it was him..." "There was no proven complicity ... He is tarred by his association with the GIA when there is no proof he committed any terrorist acts." "Besides, the witnesses are all dead, ain't they?" The United States Government had virtually labelled members of non-government Muslim groups as terrorists but it could be argued in Zaoui's case that he was a freedom fighter trying to restore democracy to Algeria. "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter, after all." Most people wouldn't describe what GAI wants as the restoration of democracy. Not even the people who belong to GAI, in fact... "My impression is he would not be a threat here and has basically sought refuge from his hell of having a death squad on his trail." "If I'm wrong, it probably won't be me who ends up dead, probably not even anybody I know." Zaoui was a democratically elected member of the Algerian Islamic Front for Salvation (FIS) in December 1991, but the new Government was overthrown in a military coup in January 1992. Because it was chock full of murderous bastards like him... Clive Williams, director of terrorism studies at the Australian National University, said it was possible Zaoui had been wrongly accused of terrorism. It's possible the earth is flat, too. They could be lying to us... The head of the FIS, Dr Mojurad Dhina, told the Herald from Switzerland yesterday that Zaoui was not a terrorist or linked to any crime. He deserved political asylum. "No, of course he's not a terrorist. None of us are..." Dr Dhina said the terrorist rumours were triggered by the Algerian secret services. "Y'see, they're conspiring against us..." Unless deported to Malaysia - his last port of embarkation - Zaoui will appear in court next month after his 28-day detention warrant expires. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #3 NZ's Refugee Status Appeal Authority examined the case of Ahmed Zaoui for 5 weeks. Of all the appeals for refugee status they hear, they dismiss more than 80%. In the case of Ahmed Zaoui they found overwhelmingly in his favour. He is a moderate man of peace, and I hope NZ is the place he will find peace and refuge. Internet rumour is no basis for justice, nor is unsubstantiated intellegence gossip. See http://www.refugee.org.nz/stats.htm for statistics. |
| Posted by: LXD 2003-10-1 5:37:44 AM |
| #2 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL MEDIA RELEASE FOR ATTENTION OF: CHIEFS OF STAFF: 01/08/2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE REFUGEE ? NOT "SUSPECTED TERRORIST" The New Zealand Section of Amnesty International today called for the immediate release of Ahmed Zaoui, the Algerian detained since December last year as a "suspected terrorist", following a finding by the Refugee Status Appeals Authority that he is a genuine refugee. As Mr Zaoui has been recognized by the Refugee Status Appeals Authority as a political refugee this means that he has not been found guilty of terrorism in their eyes. "The terms of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees would not have applied if he had been considered to be guilty of 'war crimes', 'a crime against humanity', 'a crime against peace', or had committed any serious 'non-political crime' in Algeria or elsewhere", said Amnesty International New Zealand Executive Director, Ced Simpson. "There must be truly compelling evidence to warrant the continued imprisonment of a refugee who was legitimately elected as a parliamentarian in a landslide election for his party in 1991, who has been in enforced exile for a decade since and against whom there has been no clearly substantiated allegations of criminal behavior. These allegations may well have originated with Algerian intelligence services that have been implicated in massive human rights violations since 1992." Mr Simpson said "New Zealand politicians should reflect carefully on the fact that a well-respected politician elected in fair elections as part of a landslide victory in Algeria in 1991 was now being held in maximum security prison in New Zealand, following a lengthy period of enforced exile." It is officially acknowledged that at least 100,000 people ? mainly civilians ? have died since the election was blocked by the military. The Algerian authorities have claimed to "have neutralized" 20,000 "terrorists" during that time. The Appeals Authority has reviewed Mr Zaoui's case extensively in coming to the decision and the onus is now on the government to publicly justify his continued detention in a maximum security prison. enz Margaret Taylor Activism Support Manager Amnesty International New Zealand Service and Development Office 1st floor, 145 Nelson Street, Auckland Box 5300, Wellesley Street, Auckland Tel: +64-9 303 4519 fax: +64-9-303 4528 mobile 021 165 1834 I've signed in support of putting Human Rights on the front line in Iraq! Have you? Visit www.amnesty.org.nz "Activism is my rent for living on this planet." Alice Walker |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-8-3 8:53:02 AM |
| #1 Hi, I am a journalist working for the Listener magazine in New Zealand. Does anybody have any hard evidence that Zaoui is implicated in terrorist activities? I have a lot of evidence that he never has been and am looking for some counterpoint. Feel free to email me direct. Cheers, Alistair. |
| Posted by: Alistair Bone 2003-7-22 11:25:16 PM |