Posted on 07/04/2005 1:33:21 PM PDT by jmc1969
AMMAN, July 4 (Reuters) - A Muslim cleric who moulded the militant Islamic views of al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, sworn foe of U.S. forces in Iraq, has been freed from prison in Jordan, Islamist and security sources said on Monday.
Issam Barqawi, better known as Sheikh Abu Mohammad al-Maqdisi, 43, was released on June 28 after a six-month detention at intelligence headquarters following his acquittal at a trial of Jordanian and Saudi sympathisers of al Qaeda.
Political sources were uncertain what prompted the release of Maqdisi, now under close surveillance by authorities at his house near Zarqa, east of the capital, where fellow Jordanian Zarqawi was born.
"Maqdisi now has an ability to move more freely and reach out to his followers. This could pose a security risk and galvanise fundamentalists especially since Zarqawi remains at large," said one official who requested anonymity.
Muslim scholars who follow Zarqawi's religious utterances on the Internet say Maqdisi's teachings have had a profound influence on the militant's mindset ever since they shared a jail cell in Jordan from 1995 to 1999.
"Zarqawi was a student of Sheikh Maqdisi, who was a source of inspiration for him in jihad (holy war)," said Mohammad Najjar, an Islamist scholar familiar with Maqdisi's background.
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
Pong
Perhaps he is now being watched 24/7.
You linked to a thread about Saudi Arabia.
This may be an intentional intel op, but I don't like it. (Fortunately the powers that be do not require my prior approval.) :-)
Sorry wrong link try: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1436341/posts
Yeah, I kinda wondered too.
you thoughts are interesting, ....would be worth a try to see if some contact between the two was attempted.....
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