Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HAMBURG36
2007-05-18 13:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Hamburg
Cable title:
MOTASSADEQ LOSES FINAL APPEAL
how-toVZCZCXRO9746 RR RUEHDF RUEHLZ DE RUEHAG #0036 1381339 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 181339Z MAY 07 FM AMCONSUL HAMBURG TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0147 RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0136 RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE RUEHAG/AMCONSUL HAMBURG 0166
UNCLAS HAMBURG 000036
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/AGS, EUR/PPD, L/LEI, AND S/CT
JUSTICE FOR BARBARA BERMAN AND PATRICIA REEDY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER KJUS PREL ASEC GM
SUBJECT: MOTASSADEQ LOSES FINAL APPEAL
REF: A. A) HAMBURG 001
B. B) 06 HAMBURG 074
C. C) 06 HAMBURG 67, AND PREVIOUS
D. D) 04 HAMBURG 411
UNCLAS HAMBURG 000036
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/AGS, EUR/PPD, L/LEI, AND S/CT
JUSTICE FOR BARBARA BERMAN AND PATRICIA REEDY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER KJUS PREL ASEC GM
SUBJECT: MOTASSADEQ LOSES FINAL APPEAL
REF: A. A) HAMBURG 001
B. B) 06 HAMBURG 074
C. C) 06 HAMBURG 67, AND PREVIOUS
D. D) 04 HAMBURG 411
1. (U) On May 11, the German Federal High Court in Karlsruhe
announced its decision to reject 9/11 cell member Mounir
el-Motassadeq's appeal of the January 8 verdict of the Hamburg
Regional Court that convicted Motassadeq of membership in a
terrorist organization and of 246 counts of accessory to murders
that took place in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Court also
upheld the Hamburg Regional Court's January 8 fifteen-year
prison sentence (Ref A) making Hamburg's decision legally
binding.
2. (U) After five-and-a-half years of legal battles, this was
Motassadeq's final appeal in the German court system and so he
will continue to serve his sentence. The High Court found
Motassadeq's appeal "unfounded" and said its re-examination of
the January 8 decision did not reveal any legal errors.
Motassadeq's defense lawyer Udo Jacob told the press that he
intends to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.
Calling the German courts' decisions "arbitrary," Jacob claimed
that his client had been convicted based on "speculation" and
that acquitted Hamburg cell member Abdelghani Mzoudi was willing
to testify (Ref D).
3. (U) This message has been coordinated with Embassy Berlin.
BUTCHER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/AGS, EUR/PPD, L/LEI, AND S/CT
JUSTICE FOR BARBARA BERMAN AND PATRICIA REEDY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER KJUS PREL ASEC GM
SUBJECT: MOTASSADEQ LOSES FINAL APPEAL
REF: A. A) HAMBURG 001
B. B) 06 HAMBURG 074
C. C) 06 HAMBURG 67, AND PREVIOUS
D. D) 04 HAMBURG 411
1. (U) On May 11, the German Federal High Court in Karlsruhe
announced its decision to reject 9/11 cell member Mounir
el-Motassadeq's appeal of the January 8 verdict of the Hamburg
Regional Court that convicted Motassadeq of membership in a
terrorist organization and of 246 counts of accessory to murders
that took place in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Court also
upheld the Hamburg Regional Court's January 8 fifteen-year
prison sentence (Ref A) making Hamburg's decision legally
binding.
2. (U) After five-and-a-half years of legal battles, this was
Motassadeq's final appeal in the German court system and so he
will continue to serve his sentence. The High Court found
Motassadeq's appeal "unfounded" and said its re-examination of
the January 8 decision did not reveal any legal errors.
Motassadeq's defense lawyer Udo Jacob told the press that he
intends to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.
Calling the German courts' decisions "arbitrary," Jacob claimed
that his client had been convicted based on "speculation" and
that acquitted Hamburg cell member Abdelghani Mzoudi was willing
to testify (Ref D).
3. (U) This message has been coordinated with Embassy Berlin.
BUTCHER