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Accused Aussies released in Lebanon
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July 4, 2007
Ahmed Elomar, pictured with his wife Najatt on their wedding day, was arrested in Lebanon. Photo: Adam Hollingworth |
Two Australian men arrested in Lebanon over suspicion of terrorism have been released without charge.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) identified them as Ahmed Elomar and Mohamed Bassal.
Another Australian is reported to have appeared before a Lebanese military court over allegations that that he supplied weapons to an al-Qaeda-aligned terror group that launched a violent insurgency against the Lebanese Army.
The man was named by The Australian newspaper today as Omar Hadba of Sydney.
A fourth Australian, named as Ibrahim Sabour, is also due to be charged in Beirut, the paper said.
The four Australians, all of Lebanese background, were detained by the Lebanese military over alleged connections to the militant group Fatah al-Islam last month.
DFAT confirmed the two men released had not been charged.
"On 3 July consul officers in Beirut confirmed that two of the four Australian men arrested of suspicion of involvement in terrorist activity have been released without charge," A DFAT spokesman said.
The spokesman said both men have returned to their families in north Lebanon.
"Consul officers will remain in contact with both men to check on their welfare," the spokesman said.
The spokesman said consul officers have visited another of the Australian men being held at the military court.
"The consul officers inquired about his welfare provided him with details of lawyers and passed messages from his family," the spokesman said.
Consul officers are continuing to pursue Lebanese authorities to contact the fourth man also being held at the military court, the spokesman said.
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Two Australians ‘tortured' after arrest in Lebanon
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TWO Australian men arrested last month in Lebanon, where their families live, have been charged with terrorism offences including participating in the murder of civilians.
The charges came as Canberra said it was pressing Lebanese officials to investigate claims of torture.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said yesterday the Lebanese government had advised that former Sydney financial adviser Ibrahim Sabouh and Omar El Hadba had been charged. They are accused of "carrying weapons, undermining the state's authority and participating in the killing of civilians and military personnel", he said. "The charges, as I understand, will be heard in a military court."
Downer said consular officials had requested access to both men, and had asked for an investigation into claims the pair – and two other Australians picked up with them two weeks ago during violent unrest in Tripoli – were tortured in custody.
Ahmed Elomar, who along with his friend Mohammad Basal was later released without charge, said he was blindfolded and beaten during lengthy interrogations.
The Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade said two of the four men, including one still in custody, had complained of their treatment.
"We take these claims very seriously and have raised allegations of mistreatment at senior levels of government, military and judiciary who assured us the men were in good health," said a department spokesperson. He said Australia's ambassador in Beirut would pursue the allegations.
"We will press for an investigation and will support the families' request for independent medical examinations of the men in custody," he said. "We will continue to stress the expressions of the Australian government that the men be well cared for and detained in line with international humanitarian standards."
Elomar, a champion super-flyweight boxer, has alleged he was blindfolded and beaten during his interrogation, which included questions about links to al-Qaeda fugitive Osama bin Laden. "They started asking me about Bin Laden and names I've never heard of," he told The Australian. "And obviously, when they do the interrogation, they hit you. I was getting hits from day one to the last day. Like with a stick, they hit you." — Sapa-AFP
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