ZENICA, Bosnia-Hercegovina (AFP)
Up to 5,000 people rallied in Bosnia-Hercegovina Saturday to express support for former Arab fighter Imad al-Husini, also known as Abu Hamza, who was stripped of his Bosnian citizenship and risks being deported.
"People who have not done anything wrong are being declared a threat to national security," Aiman Awad, head of Ensarije association of naturalized Arab ex-fighters told the gathering.
"Courts in Bosnia-Hercegovina obviously work under outside influence while Bosnian politicians remain silent ... Authorities ignore our pleas," he added.
The rally, dubbed "Forgive us, Hamza", was organized by Ensarije and Zenica-based associations of decorated veterans of Bosnia's 1992-95 war and was attended by people of all ages.
"You need not ask me for forgiveness. Local authorities, but also Europe and America, should ask you for forgiveness for violating your and my human rights," Abu Hamza, a Syrian, told the crowd.
Abu Hamza was granted Bosnian citizenship 12 years ago and has since married a Bosnian woman with whom he has three children. He arrived in Bosnia during the war to fight with the Bosnian army's El Mujahed unit, notorious for criminal activities.
Citing irregularities, a specially established state commission revoked the citizenship last year of hundreds of foreigners including Abu Hamza and a number of other Muslim former fighters in Bosnia's war.
Abu Hamza's appeals for permanent residence and asylum have been rejected on the grounds that his presence in Bosnia is a threat to national security.
Authorities on January 22 gave him 15 days to leave Bosnia or face deportation.
However, he simultaneously appealed to Bosnia's Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg accusing the authorities of breaching his human rights.
The European court subsequently ordered Bosnian authorities not to deport him for as long as a Bosnian court has not ruled in his case.
The next meeting of the Bosnian Constitutional Court is not expected before the end of March.
Bosnia came under the spotlight after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States due to the presence of former fighters from Islamic countries.
Although they were ordered to leave under the terms of the Dayton peace accords, some stayed on having obtained citizenship. |
