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High security at Ahmed Zaoui hearing
Algerian Ahmed Zaoui, who has been held in Paremoremo Prison since arriving in New Zealand a month ago, could wait another six weeks for a decision on alleged terrorist links. Zaoui appeared briefly in the Manukau District Court for an extension of the 28-day warrant under which he is being held. Two guards searched bags and swept detection devices over anybody entering the main courtroom. Wearing handcuffs and a blue prison boiler suit with a letter D stitched to his back, Zaoui looked nervously around the half-full courtroom while bending to keep one ear on an Arabic interpreter. Judge Semi Epati accepted there were no objections to extending Zaoui's warrant to stay in New Zealand while his application for refugee status was considered. He remanded Zaoui back to Paremoremo for seven more days. Lawyer Roger Chambers said Zaoui had already appeared before an interviewing officer with the Refugee Status Branch and a decision was expected about the middle of February. Routine immigration stuff, rules applied to an international terrorist. Why the hell is he in New Zealand, fergawdsake?.. Zaoui arrived at Auckland Airport from Malaysia on December 4 with false South African documents, some destroyed on the flight. He is a member of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) which in December 1991 was democratically elected to rule Algeria, but the secular army took power by coup in January 1992. He fled to Europe where he was accused of belonging to or helping the FIS' alleged paramilitary wing Islamic Armed Group (GIA). The GIA led a civil war in Algeria and was blamed for the Paris metro bombing which killed eight people. Among other atrocities. They're the group that's so fond of slitting people's throats and wiping out entire families. Favorite quote: "neither truce, nor dialogue, nor reconciliation, nor security, but blood, blood, destruction, destruction." Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-01-03 |
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