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Al-Qaeda Trials in Iran Could Take Years

Jun 29, 2004
Persian Journal

Iran's government said yesterday that the Islamic Republic may take up to three years to put on trial captured members of the al-Qaeda network held in its jails.

Cabinet Spokesman Abdollah Ramazanzadeh reiterated Iran's position that Tehran would only extradite fugitives deemed not to have acted against the state, and from countries with whom Iran has an extradition agreement. "If not, they will go on trial in Iran.

However, it is a long process that could take two to three years," he said. In 2003, Iran confirmed it was holding senior members from Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, but has refused to identify them. The identity of those still being held has been the subject of intense speculation. Diplomatic sources and Arab press reports have pointed to the possible presence in Iran of the movement's spokesman, Sulaiman Abu Gaith, and its number three, Saif al-Adel, as well as bin Laden's son and al-Qaeda heir, Saad. Washington, however, has accused Iran's regime of harbouring and not arresting members of the network.

In February, Spain's top anti-terror judge Baltasar Garzon alleged al-Qaeda had a "board of managers" operating in Iran. Iran, which was hostile to Afghanistan's Taliban and al-Qaeda, has fiercely denied allegations that it is supporting the group. The government has also responded by criticizing what it sees as a failure by U.S. troops in Iraq to crack down on the People's Mujahedeen, the main Iranian armed opposition group, which Washington considers a terrorist organization.

http://www.iranian.ws/iran_news/publish/article_2763.shtml