The Lions of the Peninsula case
The Public Prosecution is seeking capital punishment for most of the 37 accused of joining the ‘Lions of the Peninsula’ a terrorist group. As they feel the noose tightening around the neck of their clients some lawyers are even pleading that their clients were only getting ready to fight the American forces in Iraq and ask the court for leniency in a desperate attempt to get a lesser punishment. A member of the American embassy was attending the hearing.
'Qaeda 'lions' not targeting Kuwait'
Kuwait Times, Sunday, November 13, 2005
KUWAIT: Defence lawyers said yesterday that six suspects on trial for allegedly plotting to attack US troops in Kuwait and local security officers had been preparing to go to Iraq to fight, not to attack targets at home. The defendants are among 37 Kuwaitis and other nationals accused of joining the Lions of the Peninsula, a group the prosecution claims was planning the attacks. Some are also facing counts of killing policemen in unprecedented clashes in January that led to their arrests. Weapons, bombs and chemicals that could be used for making explosives were found in their possession.
But the defence argued the six - three Kuwaitis and three stateless Arabs who live in Kuwait - were planning to go to Iraq and asked for leniency from the court. "I believe those young men have been deceived, and the way to deal with it is not tough sentences, "defence lawyer Khaled Al-Abdul-Jalil told the three-judge panel. "They readied themselves only for jihad (holy war) in Iraq," he said. After seeing the "crimes of the Americans in Iraq," including killing Muslim children and women, they believed that "jihad was their duty."
Kuwaiti authorities broke up the cell after the clashes in January, which left eight suspected terrorists and four policemen dead. The group's alleged leader, Amer Al- Enezi, was captured in one of the confrontations. He later died in a hospital of what the Interior Ministry said was a heart attack. Some defendants complained in court they were terrorised into confession by being shown his badly tortured body.
Tarek Al-Khars, another lawyer for the six defendants, said they were "ready to travel to Iraq" but were ordered by their leaders to remain hidden in safehouses after the first clash took place Jan 10. After their arrest, the men were tortured by state security officers, Al-Khars said. Many had claimed torture when the trial opened in June and showed the court what looked like beating marks on their backs. The court formed a panel of three medical school doctors to examine the men, but lawyers said its report was "incomplete." The president of the court, Judge Hani Al-Hamdan, adjourned till tomorrow. — AP
'Qaeda 'lions' not targeting Kuwait'
Kuwait Times, Sunday, November 13, 2005
KUWAIT: Defence lawyers said yesterday that six suspects on trial for allegedly plotting to attack US troops in Kuwait and local security officers had been preparing to go to Iraq to fight, not to attack targets at home. The defendants are among 37 Kuwaitis and other nationals accused of joining the Lions of the Peninsula, a group the prosecution claims was planning the attacks. Some are also facing counts of killing policemen in unprecedented clashes in January that led to their arrests. Weapons, bombs and chemicals that could be used for making explosives were found in their possession.
But the defence argued the six - three Kuwaitis and three stateless Arabs who live in Kuwait - were planning to go to Iraq and asked for leniency from the court. "I believe those young men have been deceived, and the way to deal with it is not tough sentences, "defence lawyer Khaled Al-Abdul-Jalil told the three-judge panel. "They readied themselves only for jihad (holy war) in Iraq," he said. After seeing the "crimes of the Americans in Iraq," including killing Muslim children and women, they believed that "jihad was their duty."
Kuwaiti authorities broke up the cell after the clashes in January, which left eight suspected terrorists and four policemen dead. The group's alleged leader, Amer Al- Enezi, was captured in one of the confrontations. He later died in a hospital of what the Interior Ministry said was a heart attack. Some defendants complained in court they were terrorised into confession by being shown his badly tortured body.
Tarek Al-Khars, another lawyer for the six defendants, said they were "ready to travel to Iraq" but were ordered by their leaders to remain hidden in safehouses after the first clash took place Jan 10. After their arrest, the men were tortured by state security officers, Al-Khars said. Many had claimed torture when the trial opened in June and showed the court what looked like beating marks on their backs. The court formed a panel of three medical school doctors to examine the men, but lawyers said its report was "incomplete." The president of the court, Judge Hani Al-Hamdan, adjourned till tomorrow. — AP
posted by Ben Rivard @ 3:30 AM
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