Moroccan journalists union calls for release of al Jazeera reporter
Regional-Morocco, Local, 9/13/2003

The Union of Moroccan journalists "SNPM" has urged spanish authorities to release Al Jazeera reporter, Teiseir Allouni, after a spanish judge decided to keep him locked up pending further investigation of his alleged links with al-Qaida.

The Union which "follows with deep concern the developments of the detention" of this reporter expressed in a press release thursday evening its "astonishment to see Spanish judicial authorities resort to his arrest for suspicions that are still under an investigation."

The SNPM called for Allouni's release and demanded that "all judicial gurantees be ensured to preserve his rights," saying it is "considering various initiatives as part of its action to support Taysir Alouni." In his decision, the Judge said evidence suggests 56-year-old Alouni joined an Islamist group in 1995 that may be a support group for al-Qaida. Alouni, a Spanish citizen of Syrian origin, was arrested while on holiday in Granada last Friday.

Allouni, who found fame in the Arab world for exclusive reporting from Afghanistan during the US war on the Taliban, has interviewed among others al-Qaida figurehead Osama Bin Laden.

Previous Stories:
  Spain is trying Allouni over leading Jund Allah   (9/12/2003)
  Spain asks Allouni of information about Bin Laden   (9/11/2003)
  Allouni is expected to be released within 24 hours   (9/10/2003)

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