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May 25, 2012
Swedish woman freed in Pakistan terror probe
Published: 25 Sep 09 10:39 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/22292/20090925/
Safia Benaouda, the 19-year-old Swedish woman arrested in Pakistan earlier in September in the company of former Guantanamo inmate Mehdi Ghezali, is reported to have been released, according to local media.
- Swede held in Kenya over suspected terror links (15 May 12)
- Swedish terror suspects plead 'not guilty' (13 Apr 12)
- 'Secret judges' in Danish terror case: Swede's rep (8 Apr 12)
"They have confirmed that a woman and a small child have been handed over to the Swedish embassy today and there are no suspicions held against them," the Pakistani journalist Naveed Siddiqui, working for GEO News, said after talking to the Pakistani interior ministry.
The Swedish foreign ministry was unable to confirm the release on Friday morning.
"We have not received any information about this from the Swedish embassy," Karin Nylund at the ministry told news agency TT.
Neither sources elsewhere within the ministry nor even the Benaouda's mother were able to confirm the reports, which by 1pm on Friday had received wide coverage in the Swedish media.
"I have received so many contradictory reports and am now waiting for confirmation from the foreign ministry," Helena Benaouda told TT.
Naveed Siddiqui however was able to add that the authorities have confirmed that a further eleven prisoners are set to be released, implying that Swedish national Mehdi Ghezali and Benaouda's 28-year-old partner Munir Awad, could be among them.
He also claimed that the Pakistani authorities had detained a further Swede in connection to the terror probe, a 28-year-old man, but this has neither been confirmed by Swedish authorities.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
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I have always wondered, since this story first appeared, what exactly these people have allegedly done that is regarded as so 'dangerous' or so 'criminal'.
It always appeared to me that their arrest and imprisonment was based merely upon a 'suspicion' of an intent to meet someone who is regarded as an outlaw by western governments.
Well, OK, but excuse me for asking, since when has THAT been a crime?
"...where they were to meet an alleged Taliban leader named Zahir Noor..."
Well. What to say?
Is this what the ludicrous named 'war on terror' has come to?
Welcome to the 'free' world.
They can't solve the issue of Zia, RajivGandhi Assasination after so many decades. now the latest is Benazir.
But they are the one who caught so called Terrorist( in few minutes_ to get praise from SO CALLED WAR ON TERROR leader USA(son of ISRAEL)
Hahaha, They are far superior than world best intelligence services MOSSAD, CIA.
Anyone notice that 3 plots to bomb different sites were foiled by the Americans this week (all by Muslims, but I guess that goes without saying at this point).
It was not the US that arrested them but Pakistan .. they have a civil war going on or a internal terrorist group or both and the person they were going to see is the leader of the group.. this group also is suspected of killing the wife of the current president ... how unfair to arrest visitors like these "Swedes" who are there to support the insurgency ,,
Swedish government with with Swedish tax dollars is supporting a terrorist or at least a terrorist enabler ( she was used for cover ) by bailing her out ..
1. They were arrested as they were with out any valid visa....any one visiting any country with out a valid visa would always be arrested.
2. Those so called innocent Swedes came to Pakistan by crossing over border from Iran. I am sure they must be looking for some holiday adventure.
3. Ghazali was in possesion of a sattelite phone, huge currency, fuses (that can be used in bomb making) maps and many others unwanted articles. Do u think he was going to use all this to baby sit the 2 yo kid they had with them.
Extremist are a problem, no matter what ever race or religion they belong to. We MUST condemn them.