Arabic culture and Islamic religion put on trial in al-Moayed, Zayde case, American lawyers – Yemen Observer – August 17, 2009

Written By: Zaid al-Alaya’a

Article Date: Aug 17, 2009 – 9:53:44 PM

YEMEN – The conviction of Sheikh Mohammad al-Moayed and Sheikh Mohammad Zayde was secured by an arrogant and ignorant prosecution, said Lamis Deek, a Palestanina-American lawyer on the defense team of al-Moayed and Zayde last Sunday.
In a press conference organized by the al-Moayed and Zayde defense team, Deek said that the prosecution of the two put to trial first and foremost the Arabic language, Arab culture, and the Muslim religion; creating in that courtroom day and day again an atmosphere of irrational fear of  the Arab man and Arab society.
“The victory was not just for their own rights, but a victory for the rights of all people including the American people. They secured a victory not only for their own rights, but a victory for the rights of all people, including the American people,” said Deek.
Deek said that they welcomed the decision of the Court of Appeals, which overturned their conviction as a testament to the egregious trial practices. This case is a critical step towards restoring our fundamental and constitutional right to a fair and unbiased trial to all Americans.
“Sheikh Mohammad al-Moayed and Sheikh Mohammad Zayde pled only to agreeing – not actually to giving – but only to agreeing to accept American money which they would then attempt to give to Hamas. And while they did not directly acknowledge that Hamas was a terrorist organization, they did acknowledge that Hamas engages in politically motivated acts of violence.

They pled guilty to planning to fund a party that is supported and welcomed in Yemen, to an act that by Yemeni standards is an honor, not a crime. In accepting this plea, and by their great sacrifice, they stood against the criminalization of the Palestinian resistance to occupation,” said Deek.
On responding to the medical situation of al-Moayed, Deek said that the inhumane conditions, solitary confinement, and the gross medical neglect of a torturous life under the mercy of the bureau-prisons have destroyed the physical health of Sheikh Mohammad al-Moayed.
Tina Foster, another female Iranian-American lawyer with the International Justice Network, an organization who is working with the Hood Organization here in Sana’a, and other human rights activists, have been working to end the suffering and human rights abuses that continue to be inflicted on Yemeni detainees in Guantanamo.
“Through these efforts, on January 20th of this year, President Obama – in virtually his first act as President of the United States – promised to close Guantanamo Bay. All of us who have worked in this struggle had renewed hope by this, and it seemed that the end of former president Bush’s illegal and unjust action in the so-called ‘War on Terror’ would finally come to an end,” said Foster.
Foster said that their struggle is far from being over, as almost one hundred Yemeni detainees remain at Guantanamo and continue to be subjected to unfair and inhuman treatment at the hands of the United States government.
Foster said, regarding the acts of torture on prisoners in Guantanamo – which President Obama promised close, it appears that now that the injustices of Guantanamo are being perpetuated at an even worse prison – the prison run by the United States military at Baghram Airbase in Afghanistan.

“Our clients, Fadi al-Makaleh and Amin al-Bakari, are to this day on strike at Baghram. Both were kidnapped by the United States and have been tortured in secret US prisons and they remain at Baghram, being held without access to any court of law or any lawyers or any access to justice,” said Foster.
After three years of legal battles on these cases, in April of this past year a federal judge finally ruled for the first time that Guantanamo detainees and Baghram detainees – these two clients in particular – have the right to have their cases heard in US courts.
But to the great disappointment of the al-Moayed defense team, President Obama is now challenging this and has appealed to the Court of Appeals. The case will be heard later this year in Washington D.C. in the Court of Appeals.
There can no longer be any doubt that President Obama wishes to use Baghram in the same way that President Bush used Guantanamo.
“Obviously this concern should be for all of us, as the Obama administration continues to maintain the right to kidnap our Muslim brothers from anywhere in the world and hold them indefinitely without access to justice. In addition there are people in the United States, such as our Yemeni brother Abad al-Fakeeh, who is currently serving an excessive and severe sentence in the United States for the most minor of technical offences,” said Foster.
According to Foster, there are thousands of other American Muslim prisoners being held in outrageous conditions.
“Addressing you here today and sitting next to my freed client Mohammad Zayde has been the greatest honor of my legal career. I must thank the Yemeni people for their warm welcome and for keeping the struggle alive on behalf of these two heroes who are finally returned to you. I also need to thank the Committee for the great honor of having served as their representative in the United States,” concluded Foster.
Sheikh al-Moayed didn’t attend the press conference due to his deteriorating health, so his aide, Mohammed Zayde, expressed his delight over their freedom and return to their country.
Zayde thanked the President, the Prime Minster, the Yemeni people, and the parties, organizations, and rights activists for their efforts in obtaining their release, commending the American lawyers’ efforts for their support saying that their dealing was unique and humane and has contributed to increasing prison morale. He urged the Yemeni government and right activists to work for the release of the rest of the detainees in American prisons.
He added that he is glad to return to his social charitable activity to bring back the smiles and joy to the faces of the poor and to fight real terrorism – hunger and poverty.
Sheikh Hamoud Hashim al-Tharihi, Head of the notational committee for defending Zayde and al-Moayed, expressed their committee’s preparedness to continue efforts for other detainees’ release.
He said he would not relax until the last Yemeni, Arab, and Muslim prisoner are freed, through the cooperation of the entire world’s honorable people.
Al-Tharihi, Hood organization and al-Moayed’s brother, honored the American lawyers, handing them the National Committee shield for Al-Moayed and Zayde’s defense, in addition to a certificate from the Foreign Affairs Minister which was given to the team on his behalf.
Among the defense team of al-Moayed and Zayde was also Bob Boyle, the attorney for the appeal. He could not attend the conference but said that he wanted the people to know that his commitment did not end with the return of Sheikh Mohammad al-Moayed. He said also that the entire legal team, Elizabeth Finks, Sarah Kunstler, Tina Foster, and Lamis Deek remain dedicated to seeking justice for both of the men.

Al-Moayad and Zayed get heroes’ welcomes – Sahwa Net – August 13, 2009

Al-Moayad and Zayed get heroes’ welcomes
13/08/2009
Yasser Al-Wesabi, Sahwa Net

Tens of thousands of Yemenis received on Tuesday Sheikh Mohammad Ali Hassan and Mohammad Zayed who were jailed for more than six year in the United States.

Al-Moayad and Zayed were welcomed by great reception from crowds that hindered the movement of motorcade. Masses leaded by the Islah party’s leaders , ministers , politicians and dignitaries gathered in each sides of roads, brandishing the pictures of two men and banners calling today” freedoms day.”

A local committee established to defend al-Moayad and Zayed , the National Committee for Defending Al-Moayad and Zayed, considered the huge ovation a victory for rights and freedoms.

The lawyer of Al-Moayad who companied to Sana’a, Lamis Deek, said that the U.S. government failed to get evidence against al-Moayad and Zayed , and lately resorted to take admissions that he was intending to support Hamas.

She stressed that the support of Hamas is legal throughout Yemen and Muslim world, pointing out that the evidence of the U.S prosecution were not legitimate.

The chief of the Hood Organization for Defending Humans and Rights said the support of Hamas is honored by all Muslims and the acknowledge of its support a accolade to them.

Al-Moayad and Zayed were arrested in Germany in 2003 and extradited to the United States. A US court sentenced al-Moayyad in 2005 to 75 years in prison and Zayed to 45 years over alleged financial support to al-Qaeda and Hamas.

US Court of Appeals overturned the convictions last October and ordered a retrial because of inflammatory testimony about unrelated terrorism cases in the first trial.

Freed Yemeni scholar in hospital – Al Jazeera – August 12, 2009

Freed Yemeni scholar in hospital
Sheikh Mohammed al-Moayad admitted to hospital with acute liver failure.
Last Modified: 12 Aug 2009 21:37 GMT

Published at Al Jazeera English

A Yemeni Islamic scholar freed after six years of imprisonment in the United States on terrorism charges has been taken to hospital with acute liver failure, his son has said.

Sheikh Mohammed al-Moayad returned to Yemen on Tuesday after a US federal court overturned his terrorism conviction.

His son Zakaria said his father was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday and taken to the intensive care unit.

His lawyer, Mohamed Naji Allaw, said he was waiting for approval from Saudi Arabia to be treated there, or in Jordan.

Warm welcome

Al-Moayad received a hero’s welcome from ministers, political leaders, other dignitaries and thousands of people on his arrival in Yemen on Tuesday.

The man was sentenced to 75 years in prison by a US court in 2005 for providing financial support to al-Qaeda and Hamas, after being extradited from Germany where he was arrested two years earlier.

But a US appeals court ordered a retrial last October after overturning the convictions on grounds they were prejudiced by inflammatory testimony from unrelated terrorism cases in the original trial.

He was released after his lawyer struck a plea bargain deal with US prosecutors, sources close to his family said.

Under the agreement, he pleaded guilty to providing aid to Hamas, which is listed among terrorist groups by US government, and was sentenced to six
years time served.