Al-Jazeera journalist arrested for 'Al-Qaeda links'

Expatica (Spain) ^ | 19 November 2004 | SA

[Ginifer]

DOHA- Al-Jazeera television has reported the re-arrest in Spain of its star reporter, Tayssir Alluni, who was charged there last year with membership in the Al-Qaeda terror network.

"I was surprised that they arrested him again," Alluni's wife, Fatima, told the Qatar-based channel. She accused top Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon of making the case "a personal affair" and demanded her husband's release "because there is no new evidence" against him.

Alluni, a Spaniard of Syrian origin, was first arrested on 5 September 2003 at his family home in the southern city of Grenada.

Alluni was one of 35 people -- including bin Laden -- charged in September with links to, or membership of, the Islamic network and using trips to Kabul to forge links with Al-Qaeda.

Suffering from a heart defect, he was released on bail the following month.

Alluni found fame with exclusive reporting from Afghanistan during the US-led war on the Taliban launched in October 2001, interviewing bin Laden and later reporting from Baghdad on the war in Iraq.

Al-Jazeera has consistently stood by its reporter since his arrest and has accused the United States and Israel of inciting Spain to incriminate him.

[The G Man]

*GASP!*

[Salvey]

Now how about rounding up the rest of that den of rats.

[Diogenesis]

Many are surprised the terrified Spanish let him go.

[cardinal4]

An Al Jazeera correspondent with terror links?? Im shocked!

[In veno, veritas]

I don't think Spain gives two diddlies about US and Israel in the war on terror. They are looking out for themselves.

[csvset]

What is this Al-Qaeda you speak about?

[sandydipper]

Nuke 'em all before lunch.

[tcostell]

I know nothing about counter-terrorism or spycraft, but I always imagined that since Al-Jazeera is Al-Queda's mouthpiece that the US and Israeli intelligence are following around all of their staffers, bugging their phones, their cars, taking photos of them in compromising positions etc. At least, I always sort of hoped so.

[TMSuchman]

It would be too bad if they had a bad failure of their transmitter[s] or satellite. [wink wink]Maybe an EMP[electrical magnetic pulse] could go by them.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Judge Garzon has actually been pretty effective-almost as good as his French counterpart, Jean-Louis Brugueire-in defusing potential terrorist attacks.

Granted, he's the same person who embarked on a seemingly fruitless witch hunt of former Chilean president Augosto Pinochet-just as the infirm man was about to lay down on his death bed.

However, when it comes to confronting and defeating vile networks of Islamic Arabs who have insinuated themselves into the heart of Western Europe, nobody beats Mr. Garzon.

[Ron in Acreage]

How about Brokaw, Jennings and Rather? Aren't they with Al-Jazeera also?

[kidd]

Yes, but Dan Rather is still a free man

[Right Angler]

I'm SHOCKED!! Shocked, I tell ya.

[CriticalJ]

Were all of the other reporters out to lunch? Is there an APB out for them?

[Arrowhead1952]

Al-Jazeera journalist arrested for 'Al-Qaeda links' --- Who would'a thunk it. Heck, I thought ALL of Al-Jazeera was part of Al-Qaeda.

[musicman]

Gosh Ginifer !!!

You had this freeper ALL excited!!!

....then I found out the article is NOT about Kevin Sites...

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Like Hezbollah, Al Qaeda has its own public relations, media and press liason department.

[Ranger]

Amazing that he can report from Afghanistan with the Taliban during a war but can only be held 1 month in Spain because of a heart defect.

[Logic n' Reason]

DUH!!!

Ya think?????