Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CAIRO432
2007-02-15 15:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
EGYPT: RELEASE OF CLERIC ABU OMAR
how-toVZCZCXRO9016 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHEG #0432 0461522 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 151522Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3625 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 1458
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000432
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM IT EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT: RELEASE OF CLERIC ABU OMAR
Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs
William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000432
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM IT EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT: RELEASE OF CLERIC ABU OMAR
Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs
William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) An Egyptian MFA official has confirmed that Hassan
Mustafa Osama Nasr (aka "Abu Omar") was released from
detention on March 11, and is currently at his family home in
Alexandria. While MOJ, State Security, and Public Prosecutor
personnel refused to comment on the case, Deputy Assistant
Foreign Minister for Counter Terrorism Ashraf Mohsen told
poloff that Abu Omar was ordered freed by a State Security
Court that found his detention "unfounded," because "we had
nothing to hold him on." (Note: Upon his initial detention in
Egypt in 2003, the imam was charged with belonging to an
illegal organization. He was reportedly briefly released in
2004 when the charges were dropped, but was almost
immediately detained again without charge, under statutes of
Egypt's Emergency Law. End note).
2. (C) Abu Omar's lawyer Montasser al-Zayat, an attorney
infamous for his theatrical antics and his defense of
high-profile Islamists, told journalists on February 12 that
Abu Omar wants to sue former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi for
$13 million in damages. However, according to reports in
the Egyptian press, Abu Omar signed a letter upon his release
from prison pledging that he would not travel to Italy to
testify in Milan court proceedings about his alleged
abduction from Italy , and that he promised he will not talk
to the media about his case. Abu Omar was quoted in press
reports as telling Italy,s ANSA news agency on February 12
that, &I am a wreck of a human being. I cannot speak. I
cannot leave the country. I do not want to go to prison
again.8
RICCIARDONE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM IT EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT: RELEASE OF CLERIC ABU OMAR
Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs
William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) An Egyptian MFA official has confirmed that Hassan
Mustafa Osama Nasr (aka "Abu Omar") was released from
detention on March 11, and is currently at his family home in
Alexandria. While MOJ, State Security, and Public Prosecutor
personnel refused to comment on the case, Deputy Assistant
Foreign Minister for Counter Terrorism Ashraf Mohsen told
poloff that Abu Omar was ordered freed by a State Security
Court that found his detention "unfounded," because "we had
nothing to hold him on." (Note: Upon his initial detention in
Egypt in 2003, the imam was charged with belonging to an
illegal organization. He was reportedly briefly released in
2004 when the charges were dropped, but was almost
immediately detained again without charge, under statutes of
Egypt's Emergency Law. End note).
2. (C) Abu Omar's lawyer Montasser al-Zayat, an attorney
infamous for his theatrical antics and his defense of
high-profile Islamists, told journalists on February 12 that
Abu Omar wants to sue former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi for
$13 million in damages. However, according to reports in
the Egyptian press, Abu Omar signed a letter upon his release
from prison pledging that he would not travel to Italy to
testify in Milan court proceedings about his alleged
abduction from Italy , and that he promised he will not talk
to the media about his case. Abu Omar was quoted in press
reports as telling Italy,s ANSA news agency on February 12
that, &I am a wreck of a human being. I cannot speak. I
cannot leave the country. I do not want to go to prison
again.8
RICCIARDONE