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Australian Islamist terror suspect
deported from Kurdistan
28.3.2007
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Terror suspect Australian citizen returning home
March 28, 2007
Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan region (Iraq), -- A
suspected Australian terrorist who has been held in
Kurdistan region (northern Iraq) for more than two
years without charge is returning home today.
Sydney spray painter Ahmed Jamal, 24, was arrested
by members of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)
in Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan region (North-Iraq), in
September 2004.
They allege he attempted to join a militant jihad
group but Mr Jamal denies any terrorist links.
Mr Jamal will return home after more than a year of
intense discussions between the Australian
government, the Iraqis and Kurdish regional leaders.
He is being deported from Kurdistan after the
Australian government agreed to a number of
conditions from the Kurds relating to Mr Jamal's
return.
These conditions include a security escort for his
journey home and that his travel be on a limited
validity passport, which places limitations on his
route to Australia.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
confirmed last night that Mr Jamal was returning to
Australia, saying it had consistently pressed for
him to be charged or allowed to go home.
"It was not acceptable to us (that he hadn't been
charged)," a senior DFAT official said.
"Consistent with our approach to other cases, over a
lot of last year we made pretty extensive
negotiations to the Kurds that he should be charged
under properly constituted local law or they should
release him.
"We were labouring the message he should be charged
or released."
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer also pleaded Mr
Jamal's case in a letter to Iraqi President Jalal
Talabani, the nation's most senior Kurd.
Mr Jamal's lawyer, Stephen Kenny, last night said he
had not been informed of his client's impending
return to Australia.
He has previously accused the government of not
doing enough to help Mr Jamal, who claimed he was
tortured while in jail.
According to the government, the security situation
in Iraq had made it difficult to get regular
consular access to Mr Jamal.
"(But) during that time we were in frequent contact
with the ICRC (International Committee of the Red
Cross) who had visited him and we were talking to
them about his welfare and legal status," the DFAT
official said.
The first consular visit occurred last February.
"It was a pretty fraught visit, the helicopter
carrying (the official) ... was targeted by a
(missile) over Baghdad," the official said.
The Australian Federal Police were not saying last
night whether they wanted to speak to Mr Jamal on
his return but he reportedly could face charges
related to being a member of a terrorist
organisation.
Mr Jamal's older brother, Saleh, has been jailed in
Lebanon in relation to terrorist activities.
Saleh Jamal, who once reportedly threatened to fly a
plane into the Sydney Harbour Bridge, was jailed on
weapons charges.
AAP
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