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| Africa North |
| The Mujahid Mohamed Gharbi sentenced to death, pardoned by President |
| 2010-12-07 |
| [Ennahar] A hero of the anti-colonial struggle in Algeria sentenced to death for shooting a repentant Islamist leader who threatened him, was pardoned and should be able to regain his freedom, said Monday one of his son to the press . Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has made a gesture toward my father, "Mohamed Gharbi, former Mujahid and retired officer of the Algerian army, said his son Mourad Gharbi to the daily "L'Expression". "This is a presidential pardon, we were somewhat appeased," he added. The sentence against Mr. Gharbi, 75, was commuted to 20 years imprisonment, his son said. "We expected the release. My father is an old man, tired and sick," he regretted, however, adding that a file will be submitted to apply for parole. His lawyer, Abderrahmane Boutamine told the daily El-Watan that the convict had already spent "half his sentence, ten years in prison, and is therefore entitled to apply for parole." But he must pay the legal fees and "civil damages", valued at over one million Dinars (over 10,000 euros, more than 13,000 dollars), he added. The veteran has been imprisoned since February 2001 for having shot with his Kalashnikov Ali Merad, a member of the Islamic Army of Salvation (AIS) who was taunting and threatening him in his home town of Souk Ahras, some 600 kmAlgiers, near the Tunisian border. southeast Gharbi had created in his area in the 90s a group of self-defense to counter the violence of the terrorists. No complaints against Merad, who had laid down the arms in exchange for amnesty under the policy of national reconciliation by president Bouteflika, had succeeded. A vigorous campaign was launched in the country to secure the release of the convicted and the Coordination for the release of Mohamed Gharbi (CLMG) welcomed the pardon. But one member, Mohammed Baghdadi, has dampened the enthusiasm: "It's hard to claim victory because you never know how the Islamists will react." |
| Posted by:Fred |