Man Believed to Be Last 9-11 Detainee Freed

[AnOhioan]

NEW YORK (AP) - An Algerian man believed to be the last domestic detainee still in custody from a national dragnet after Sept. 11 - and who was cleared of links to terrorism in November 2001 - was set free this week, his lawyer said Friday.

Benemar Benatta, 32, went to Ontario, Canada, where he is seeking political asylum, after being released from a Buffalo immigration lockup Thursday, attorney Catherine Amirfar said.

``After five years, he had become all but hopeless,'' she said. ``Now he's cautiously optimistic.''

Benatta was among 1,200 mostly Arab and Muslim men detained nationwide as potential suspects or witnesses in the investigation following the terrorist attacks. The government has refused to discuss their fate, but human rights groups have said they believed the former Algerian air force lieutenant was the only one still in custody.

More at http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5967405,00.html

[daleo]

1. Well, that's only five years taken from his life

even though he "was cleared of links to terrorism in November 2001".

[gristy]

2. If just one of those people who were locked up after 9/11 was prevented

from committing an act of terror, then it was worth it! :hide:

[bahrbearian]

3. Yeah and the troops die to protect out Freedoms.

[AnOhioan]

4. Yeah gotta love profiling

:eyes:

I sure as hell feel safer knowing this guy lost 5 years of his life, AFTER he was cleared of any links to terrorism.

:sarcasm:

[dionysus]

11. lemme get this straight sparky....

you would justify locking up a slew of innocent people just in case ONE guy might be evil...

well... next time there is a terrorist attack, i'm sure you won't mind being imprisoned for years on no charges, just in case one of the guys they snag is evil...

[gristy]

14. gotcha

kidding!

[PegDAC]

16. That's not the point in this case.

He should have been released as soon as he was cleared, not nearly five years later.

[lapfog_1]

5. you know, here's the thing about this guy

and the guys in Gitmo and other places.

If they weren't terrorists when we "detained" them, they probably are now. At least I would be if it were me.

Good job!!! :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[zcflint09]

6. You'll probably get your 5 years now

Shrubya's trolls are probabaly all over DU. Expect the "Men in Black" tommorow at your house with suits on...

[Solly Mack]

7. but will America be held accountable?

Will Ashcroft be held accountable? Bush? Cheney?

You listening, Ashcroft?...I haven't forgotten your role in this criminal enterprise. You deserve prison just like the rest of the Bush Regime does.

[annabanana]

8. Heck of a job, B*shie!

Has anyone been successfully prosecuted? Anyone at all?

[chat_noir]

9. remember the $300,000 settlement?

U.S. Is Settling Detainee's Suit in 9/11 Sweep

The federal government has agreed to pay $300,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by an Egyptian who was among dozens of Muslim men swept up in the New York area after 9/11, held for months in a federal detention center in Brooklyn and deported after being cleared of links to terrorism.

The settlement, filed in federal court late yesterday, is the first the government has made in a number of lawsuits charging that noncitizens were abused and their constitutional rights violated in detentions after the terror attacks.

It removes one of two plaintiffs from a case in which a federal judge ruled last fall that former Attorney General John Ashcroft, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other top government officials must answer questions under oath. Government lawyers filed an appeal of that ruling on Friday.

In the settlement agreement, which requires approval by a federal judge in Brooklyn, lawyers for the government said that the officials were not admitting any liability or fault. In court papers they have said that the 9/11 attacks created "special factors," including the need to deter future terrorism, that outweighed the plaintiffs' right to sue.


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/28/nyregion/28detain.html?ex=1298782800&en=07cc350db15a4010&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt





http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/28/nyregion/28detain.html?ex=1298782800&en=07cc350db15a4010&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt

[Mugsy]

10. Cleared two months after 9/11. Released only now???

I wonder how they justified that?

[Canuckistanian]

12. What a colossal failure

Not one person convicted or even indicted. Even after 1200 arrests and detentions.

Just 1200 more muslims who hate this government with a legitimate complaint.

[Twist_U_Up]

13. and the men behind 9-11 are..................

still running our so called free country.

Go figure

[auburngrad82]

15. How many of the 1200 detainees were ever charged with being a terrorist?

I'll bet their only crime was being brown skinned and foreign.



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