Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAMA1954
2006-11-22 14:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

AS EXPECTED, COURT FINDS ALLEGED TERRORIST CELL

Tags:  PTER PREL PGOV ASEC BA BILAT CTR POL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6571
OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHMK #1954 3261435
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 221435Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6042
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001954 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2016
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV ASEC BA BILAT CTR POL
SUBJECT: AS EXPECTED, COURT FINDS ALLEGED TERRORIST CELL
MEMBERS NOT GUILTY

REF: A. MANAMA 1507

B. MANAMA 1156

C. MANAMA 0766

Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001954

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2016
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV ASEC BA BILAT CTR POL
SUBJECT: AS EXPECTED, COURT FINDS ALLEGED TERRORIST CELL
MEMBERS NOT GUILTY

REF: A. MANAMA 1507

B. MANAMA 1156

C. MANAMA 0766

Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) In the expected final move of a legal process that
began in June 2004, Bahrain's Higher Criminal Court November
20 found four Bahrainis accused of planning to carry out
terrorist attacks not guilty of any remaining charges. The
four, Mohieddine Khan, Yaser Kamal, Bassam Ali, and Bassam
Bokhowa, and their lawyers greeted the verdict with joy and
counter-charges. In a statement distributed to the press,
Khan thanked God that the truth had come to light and that
all the accusations against him and the other three accused
had been found to be false. "The court verdict was the
proper answer to those who falsely accused us of being
terrorists. We seek compensatory damages from the executive
authorities for the arrests" and several detentions over the
past few years. He claimed to have lost at least BD 700,000
($1.855 million) in business due to the ordeal. He asked the
government to give the four men jobs and remove travel
restrictions and security force monitoring of their
telephones and movements. He also demanded an official
apology.


2. (C) The not-guilty verdict was pre-ordained as a result
of the June 2006 constitutional court decision that Penal
Code conspiracy charges against the four were
unconstitutional (Ref B). It was only a matter of time
before the Higher Criminal Court either dismissed any
remaining charges or found the defendants not guilty. The
new counter-terrorism law, which entered into force on August
12, has yet to be applied in any legal cases. Article 18 of
the new law criminalizes conspiracy to carry out a terrorist
act, but it remains to be seen whether this clause will be
upheld in any constitutional challenge (Ref A).


3. (C) Comment: Leveraging the notoriety he has gained as a
result of this case, Khan is a candidate for the
parliamentary seat representing the first district of the
Southern Governorate. The incumbent, who is running for
re-election, is independent Salafi Jassem Al Saeedi. Al
Saeedi is expected to easily retain his seat in the November
25 election.


********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE