Hani al-Sayegh
Encyclopedia
A Saudi citizen, Hani Abdel Rahim Hussein al-Sayegh (هاني عبد الرحيم الصائغ) was an alleged member of Hezbollah Al-Hejaz and accused of involvement in the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing
. He was one of 14 people subjected to extraordinary rendition
by the CIA prior to the 2001 declaration of a War on Terror
.
Although he appeared to be innocent, American officials released a falsified account of his interrogations and deported him back to Saudi Arabia, where it was presumed he faced beheading.
interefered, he was told to leave the corps.
He left Saudi Arabia in August 1995, and moved to Iran where he studied, and then Kuwait.
In August 1996, after traveling through Rome
and Boston
, al-Sayegh arrived in Canada where he applied for refugee
and permanent resident status, while living in Ottawa. He claimed to belong to a minority Shi'ite group, and that he and his brother Mohamed had both been tortured by Saudi officials.
in March 1997, and hired immigration lawyer Douglas M. Baum to defend himself.
Canada accused him of driving one of two vehicles which had accompanied the car bomb
, and had waved the bomber forward to indicate the parking lot
was safe to enter, and sought to deport him. However, since al-Sayegh was a "frail" man suffering from frequent attacks of asthsma, the accusation that he had been a getaway driver was criticised. The evidence against him was based largely on a meeting, believed to have occurred two years before the bombing, between Sayegh and Ahmad Sherifi a senior Iranian intelligence officer also accused.
al-Sayegh argued that he had been studying in Iran for four years, including during the time the bombing took place, and that his phonecall to the Iranian embassy on the day the attacks was simply to help a friend obtain a visa.
The United States stated that despite early excitement, it did not appear to have enough evidence to extradite al-Sayegh. They also criticised Canada, stating that the arrest actually foiled surveillance efforts that would have been more fruitful. Canada issued a security certificate
to deport him, but sent him to the United States rather than Saudi Arabia, since Attorney General
Janet Reno
had granted an exception allowing him into the country for the sole sake of prosecution. However, he expressed confusion at the transfer, upon arrival, claiming to know nothing about Khobar and not understanding why the Americans sought him.
In June, al-Sayegh agreed to a plea bargain
whereby he would plead guilty to an unrelated incident, after confessing he had suggested bombing an AWACS
plane that had been transferred to the Saudi air force. However, he backed out of the agreement the following month, and the United States moved to drop all charges against him. Nevertheless, after being moved from Canada into the United States, he was deported back to Saudi Arabia on October 10, 1999 where it was assumed he would be executed upon arrival.
In Saudi Arabia, he was held incommunicado
at Al-Ha'ir Prison
for ten days, before his wife and children were allowed to visit him in prison.
Khobar Towers bombing
The Khobar Towers bombing was a terrorist attack on part of a housing complex in the city of Khobar, Saudi Arabia, located near the national oil company headquarters of Dhahran. In 1996, Khobar Towers was being used to house foreign military personnel.Al-Qaeda has incorrectly been described by...
. He was one of 14 people subjected to extraordinary rendition
Extraordinary rendition
Extraordinary rendition is the abduction and illegal transfer of a person from one nation to another. "Torture by proxy" is used by some critics to describe situations in which the United States and the United Kingdom have transferred suspected terrorists to other countries in order to torture the...
by the CIA prior to the 2001 declaration of a War on Terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
.
Although he appeared to be innocent, American officials released a falsified account of his interrogations and deported him back to Saudi Arabia, where it was presumed he faced beheading.
Life
As a young man, al-Sayegh had joined the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, but following a "particularly disastrous exercise" where his asthmaAsthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
interefered, he was told to leave the corps.
He left Saudi Arabia in August 1995, and moved to Iran where he studied, and then Kuwait.
In August 1996, after traveling through Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, al-Sayegh arrived in Canada where he applied for refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
and permanent resident status, while living in Ottawa. He claimed to belong to a minority Shi'ite group, and that he and his brother Mohamed had both been tortured by Saudi officials.
Arrest
The 28-year old al-Sayegh was arrested in a grocery storeGrocery store
A grocery store is a store that retails food. A grocer, the owner of a grocery store, stocks different kinds of foods from assorted places and cultures, and sells these "groceries" to customers. Large grocery stores that stock products other than food, such as clothing or household items, are...
in March 1997, and hired immigration lawyer Douglas M. Baum to defend himself.
Canada accused him of driving one of two vehicles which had accompanied the car bomb
Car bomb
A car bomb, or truck bomb also known as a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device , is an improvised explosive device placed in a car or other vehicle and then detonated. It is commonly used as a weapon of assassination, terrorism, or guerrilla warfare, to kill the occupants of the vehicle,...
, and had waved the bomber forward to indicate the parking lot
Parking lot
A parking lot , also known as car lot, is a cleared area that is intended for parking vehicles. Usually, the term refers to a dedicated area that has been provided with a durable or semi-durable surface....
was safe to enter, and sought to deport him. However, since al-Sayegh was a "frail" man suffering from frequent attacks of asthsma, the accusation that he had been a getaway driver was criticised. The evidence against him was based largely on a meeting, believed to have occurred two years before the bombing, between Sayegh and Ahmad Sherifi a senior Iranian intelligence officer also accused.
al-Sayegh argued that he had been studying in Iran for four years, including during the time the bombing took place, and that his phonecall to the Iranian embassy on the day the attacks was simply to help a friend obtain a visa.
The United States stated that despite early excitement, it did not appear to have enough evidence to extradite al-Sayegh. They also criticised Canada, stating that the arrest actually foiled surveillance efforts that would have been more fruitful. Canada issued a security certificate
Security certificate
In Canadian law, a security certificate is a mechanism by which the Government of Canada can detain and deport foreign nationals and all other non-citizens living in Canada...
to deport him, but sent him to the United States rather than Saudi Arabia, since Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
Janet Reno
Janet Reno
Janet Wood Reno is a former Attorney General of the United States . She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11...
had granted an exception allowing him into the country for the sole sake of prosecution. However, he expressed confusion at the transfer, upon arrival, claiming to know nothing about Khobar and not understanding why the Americans sought him.
In June, al-Sayegh agreed to a plea bargain
Plea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
whereby he would plead guilty to an unrelated incident, after confessing he had suggested bombing an AWACS
E-3 Sentry
The Boeing E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system developed by Boeing as the prime contractor. Derived from the Boeing 707, it provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, and is used by the United States Air Force , NATO, Royal Air Force , French Air Force...
plane that had been transferred to the Saudi air force. However, he backed out of the agreement the following month, and the United States moved to drop all charges against him. Nevertheless, after being moved from Canada into the United States, he was deported back to Saudi Arabia on October 10, 1999 where it was assumed he would be executed upon arrival.
In Saudi Arabia, he was held incommunicado
Incommunicado
Incommunicado, as an adjective or adverb, refers to a situation or a behaviour due to which communication with outsiders is not possible, for either voluntary or involuntary reasons, especially due to confinement or reclusiveness....
at Al-Ha'ir Prison
Al-Ha'ir Prison
Al-Ha'ir Prison is a Saudi Arabian maximum-security prison facility located approximately 25 miles south of Riyadh...
for ten days, before his wife and children were allowed to visit him in prison.