Hamed Abderrahaman Ahmad - Terrorism Conviction in Spain

Terrorism Conviction in Spain

Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzon, prepared the indictment against Ahmad. Prosecutors alleged that Mr. Ahmed had gone to Afghanistan to train with Osama bin Laden's followers. Following his trial, Ahmed was convicted. On October 5, 2005, Ahmed was sentenced to six years in prison.

Three other detainees indicted with Ahmad were Moroccan Lahcen Ikassrien, and two British residents, Omar Deghayes and Jamil al Banna. Spanish authorities alleged that these four may have had some involvement, not only with the September 11, 2001 attacks, but also with planning the later Madrid bombings.

The Washington Post reported on July 24, 2006 that Ahmad's conviction was overturned, on appeal, by the Spanish Supreme Court. According to the Washington Post article, the Spanish High Court that had originally convicted Ahmad, had not taken into account his right to the presumption of innocence. In November 2006, the US Embassy in Madrid sent a cable, released on WikiLeaks 2010-11-30, detailing the Supreme Court findings to Washington. The Supreme Court found that any confessions or evidence obtained outside of Spain could not be included in the case and in the absence of any other compelling evidence there was no case, to quote "interrogations, euphemistically called "interviews," took place under unequal circumstances because (the defendant) was in detention" at the time of the interrogations.. Several comments are also made regarding his mistreatment while in US custody, which appear to the writer to have affected the Supreme Court appeal decision.

The Washington Post quoted from the Spanish Supreme Court's decision:

"Neither the motivation the subject had to travel to Afghanistan, nor the activities he carried out, justifies the verdict passed by the High Court,"