Algerian Imam accused of joining Al Qaeda group in Pakistan gets five years prison by Algiers court
The criminal court of Algiers sentenced, on Thursday, an Algerian Imam to five years prison, on charges of joining Afghan groups fighting against the Russians, after travelling to Pakistan in 1993.
- The accused “B.Ahmed” nicknamed “Abou Tarek” already got the same sentence before same court on April 2007. The court’s decision came after the General Attorney sought him twelve years in prison, pointing out that the charge is true, especially as he left Algeria, where he was an Imam in Ibn Taimia mosque in Belabbes, west of Algeria. He joined the Afghan armed groups fighting against Russians, and lived in the guesthouse in Pakistan and trained at various types of weapons in Islamabad. He worked as a teacher in 1998 and married a Pakistani woman, until the U.S 9/11 events, as the Pakistani armed troops begun harassing the Arab community. Thus, the accused “B.Ahmed” decided to return to Algeria on July 2006, this after staying in Pakistani prison for three months following investigation on his links to Al Qaeda.
- The Algerian Imam was arrested once arriving at Algiers airport, and then he was submitted to investigation and trial on charges of joining a terrorist group active abroad.
- At the hearing, the accused “B.Ahmed” denied joining a terrorist group in Pakistan, however; the judge showed him his first confessions in which he recognized training in terrorist camps and joining “Hekmatyar” an Islamist party, considered the enemy of the Shah Massoud and Taliban, and added that he left Pakistan after the civil war started in Afghanistan.