US court annuls verdicts of terrorism against al-Moyad and Zayed

(L-R) Sheikh Muhammad al-Moyad and his co-defendant Muhammad Zayed.

An appeals court in New York overruled two verdicts against sheikh Muhammad al-Moyad and his co-defendant Muhammad Zayed, both of whom had been charged with fianancing foreign terrorists organization and that the two did not receive a fair trial citing numerous errors made by the judge as well as irregularities in the judicial process. The case will be transferred to another judge for review, said Executive director of the HOOD Yemeni human organization, for defending human rights and freedom, Khalid al-Anesi.

"The verdict is a victory for the case and that there will be no accusations. I believe this is a chance for the US government to close this case that has affected the relationship of the US with the Yemeni society and change the image of the US in Yemen. Retrying a defendant is always in the interest of the defendant and we hope that they will be released soon," said al-Anesi.

The Yemeni Minister of foreign affairs Abu Bakr al-Qirbi welcomed the court's decision in overruling the accusations against the defendants. Al-Qibri reiterated  Yemen's position that the procedures used to arrest and convict al-Moyad and Zaid were not in accordance with international legislation and that their first trial was was subject to political pressures. Al-Qirbi said that he is looking forward to the release of al-Moyad and Zaid, confirming that Yemen will continue to seek the release of the detainees as soon as possible.

The three judges unanimously agreed in overruling the verdicts indicating to the flaws in evidences that affect the course of the trial, reported CNN.

The two were charged with convening and financing foreign terrorists organizations in 2005 and sentenced to 75-45 years respectively

The two were charged with organizing and financing overseas terrorist activities, and if conviction had been carried out stood to receive prison sentences of 75 and 45 years.

Al-Anesi said that HOOD his has received information from the two detainees' American lawyer Bob Well and human rights activist Fiena Foster confirming that the verdicts against the two men have been annulled adding that the two are likely to be released within 14 days unless the US asks for a retrial.

He added the organization also could get a copy of the court's decision of canceling the verdicts, adding the copy would be released after translation.

Following its translation, a copy of the court's decision will become available to Al-Anesi's organization.

Al-Anesi used this victory to urge the Yemeni government to take steps to free its two citizens detained in the U.S. In November 2006, the US Brooklyn court withheld the case of the two without setting a date to rule on it.

In November 2006, the Brooklyn Court upheld the case against the two, however refused to set a date to rule on it. (Which court, what are the charges ect…)
Between 2003 and 2005 the court found Sheikh Muhammad al-Moyad and Muhammad Zayed guilty of financing terrorism and sentenced them to 75 and 45 years in prison respectively. The court also fined each $ 2 million.

Muhammad al-Moyad and his companion Muhammad Zayed were arrested in Germany in 2002 and were extradited to the US.

Al-Moyad and Zayed are held in Super Max prison n Colorado and that their lawyer Robert Boyle made a phone call to the jail administration hoping to speak to his clients.

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