Germans Release Convicted 9/11 Terrorist

In a move that likely supports the contention that Europeans do not take terrorism seriously, a convicted 9/11 terrorist has been released from custody while his case is being appealed.

From Aljazeera.net:

Mounir el Motassadeq was sentenced to seven years in prison last August by a court in Hamburg.

City judicial spokesman Carsten Grote on Tuesday said Germany's Federal Constitutional Court has now ordered him released. Grote did not give a reason for the higher court's decision.

It was not clear when el Motassadeq, 31, would be released.

In 2003, the Moroccan became the first person anywhere to be convicted with the 9/11 hijackings when he was found guilty of membership of a terrorist organisation.

No reason was given for the court's decision to apparently not consider him a flight risk. I'm astonished! If ever there was a candidate for being a flight risk, it seems a convicted terrorist should qualify. The German court obviously disagreed.


[Update 01/08/07]

Mounir el Motassadeq sentenced again.