13 - 19 September 2001
Issue No.551
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 13 - 19 September 2001 Issue No.551 |
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A swap in the offing?
Will the trial of eight foreigners, described as missionaries, by Taliban authorities lead to the release of ailing Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman from his US prison? Jailan Halawi seeks an answer
On 4 September, the wife of Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, spiritual leader of the underground Al-Gama'a Al- Islamiya, suggested to the Taliban government and American authorities that her husband be released in exchange for eight foreigners, accused of being missionaries, standing trial in Afghanistan.
The eight are four Germans, two Australians and two Americans. They all belong to the German-based Christian relief agency, Shelter Now International (SNI). They, and 16 Afghan colleagues, were arrested six weeks ago on charges that could carry the death penalty.
The blind cleric is serving a life sentence in a Minnesota prison for plotting to bomb New York city landmarks. Abdel-Rahman, 62, was found guilty in October 1995 of seditious conspiracy and other charges, which he dismissed at the time as a US government attempt to put Islam on trial.
Throughout the years of his imprisonment, Abdel- Rahman's Egyptian and American lawyers, as well as family members, made strenuous efforts to have him released from his prison for health reasons but to no avail.
Yet, a glimpse of hope seems to have appeared on the horizon, after the eight foreigners were arrested and put on trial before the Supreme Court of the hard-line Islamist Taliban. Aisha, Abdel-Rahman's wife, appealed to the Taliban authorities (in a letter via her husband's American lawyer) to "stretch out their hands" and "rescue the ailing cleric" by having him exchanged for their prisoners. A similar letter was addressed to the State Department in Washington.
In her letter to the Taliban, Aisha noted that "my husband is a blind old diabetic sheikh with a critical heart condition and his latest news is that he's in a very critical and deteriorating condition. This Islamic scholar and preacher has no one, after Almighty God, but you to work on setting him free. And it is God's wish that decreed the case of the foreign aid workers promoting Christianity to open the door of hope for exchanging some of them for Sheikh Abdel-Rahman."
She argued that the exchange of prisoners is well-known among countries and organisations "from the past, and until now, and is approved and advocated by Islam."
The same arguments were conveyed in a letter to the State Department.
The Taliban was quoted on 9 September saying they might consider swapping the prisoners for the sheikh, but only following the trial of the aid workers.
"The authorities will deliberate about such a request and, after consideration and research, a decision will be taken. But, above all, we need to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court," Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil, Taliban's foreign minister was quoted as saying.
Yet Muttawakil said the Taliban had not received an official request for the proposed prisoner swap.
"We have heard this news through the media, that his family has asked our leadership and similarly proposed to the American authorities. The request requires clarification and comprehension and we have not been in touch with the Americans about this," he said.
In a telephone interview, Ahmad Abdel-Sattar, the sheikh's US-based interpreter and lawyer, affirmed that the Taliban authorities were not officially approached: "neither by the sheikh's defence team nor by the American authorities."
"We cannot propose anything to either authorities unless the trial of the accused is complete and a verdict is reached," Abdel-Sattar told Al-Ahram Weekly. But he confirmed that appeals were made by the sheikh's wife.
"We never lost hope in the possibility of releasing the sheikh whose health is deteriorating, but we have not officially started negotiations," he said.
According to Abdel-Sattar, the sheikh's health has deteriorated dramatically. "He is suffering from paralysis of the limbs. His left leg is swollen and the doctors are considering amputating it."
Moreover, Abdel-Rahman is in solitary confinement around the clock. "He is not permitted to get out of his cell to feel the sun or even a breath of fresh air; he is not allowed any visits and all this reflects negatively on his health."
It is common knowledge that the Islamist Taliban authority is regarded as a haven by leaders and key figures of militant organisations. Topping the list is the Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, accused by the US of spearheading the 1998 twin bombings of its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that left almost 263 people dead. Following the attacks, the presence of bin Laden and his associates in Afghanistan created a feeling of "discomfort," as the US administration imposed air and arms sanctions on the Taliban government. Consequently, the Taliban imposed restrictions on the activities of Arab-Afghans who, whenever they wish to establish contact with others, moved out of Taliban-controlled territory and then returned.
Although pressured by the US to hand over bin Laden, the Taliban announced repeatedly that it has no intention of turning over Arab-Afghans to other countries due to the major roles they played in the 'Jihad' against the Soviet occupation.
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