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2012-05-25

Tunisia approves Al-Mahmoudi extradition

By Houda Trabelsi for Magharebia in Tunis – 25/05/12

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Tunisia agreed to extradite former Libyan Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoudi "within days or weeks", Justice Minister Noureddine Bhiri announced on Tuesday (May 22nd).

"Tunisia would not extradite the former minister if the Libyan side did not provide guarantees for a fair trial, or if his life were in danger," presidential spokesperson Adnen Manser said.

Ennahda party spokesman Nejib Gharbi also confirmed that Tunis and Tripoli were consulting on the date and details of the transfer.

Al-Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoudi was arrested last September in Tamaghza while attempting to cross into Algeria. Libya has charged him with inciting rapes in the northwestern town of Zuwara during the revolution against the Moamer Kadhafi regime. He has also been indicted for financial corruption.

Tunisia's announcement that it would hand over the 67-year-old ex-minister came less than one week after Libyan Interim Prime Minister Abdurrahim El Keib raised the extradition issue during bilateral talks in Tunis with his counterpart Hamadi Jebali.

El Keib had previously confirmed his country's ability to guarantee a fair trial.

"The Tunisian government is co-operating with Libya," Libyan Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur said Wednesday at a press conference in Tripoli.

"The Libyan people and government believe in human rights, whether in connection with al-Baghdadi or Saif al-Islam al-Kadhafi or anyone else; all will receive good treatment as per human rights standards," he said.

As Al-Mahmoudi's extradition appeared imminent, he began a hunger strike on Monday. He also released a statement denying any involvement in war crimes or human rights violations. According to the former Kadhafi official, returning him to Libya would cause "his immediate execution".

His legal team also condemned the extradition decision, alleging that it "violated Tunisian law".

"This serious development doesn't fit the dignity of Tunisia and the revolution of its people," defence attorney Bechir Essid said. "It is a shame on Tunisia's officials, the Tunisian state and its people," he said.

"There is something hidden between the authorities in Tunisia and the National Transitional Council in Libya. This might have been related to a financial or economic deal," Essid claimed.

Despite assurances from both sides of an imminent hand-over, the extradition decision only takes effective if the order is signed by Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki.

He has said, however, that he would not extradite al-Mahmoudi unless Libya provided the necessary conditions for his fair detention and trial.

Al-Mahmoudi's lead defence attorney confirmed that the decision "waits to be signed by the President".

"We appeal to Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki not to sign the extradition order because this would tarnish his legacy," Mabrouk Kourchid added.

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  1. Anonymous_thumb

    fairdi 2012-6-25

    I will tell you the leader has gone. Libya has gone. We will see what you will do with those who took millions of dollars in the time of revolution. May God bring you tranquility, o Lord!

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    النالوتي 2012-6-22

    Just consider girls who were raped as if they were your daughters and imagine that al-Baghdadi brought mercenaries to Tunisia to kill his people if we consider him Tunisian, then form a court of honest Tunisian judges supported with existing documents, evidence with voice and picture. The defendants from us and the defense from you. We will accept your decision. We even allow you to implement the sentence. Do you still want anything else?

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    زواري وافتخر 2012-6-13

    Anything built on falsehood will remain false. Day after day, we are more convinced that what happened in Libya is big sedition. May God have mercy on us and forgive us for the error we committed. We have all made an error against you Libya and recognize we have betrayed you with your enemies.

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    عمر العزيز 2012-6-10

    His insults, beating and curses, he will be sanctioned very soon for what he did. But try him with evidence and proof. Let justice do its job rightly without retaliation.

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    Anonymous 2012-6-10

    One of the numerous contradictions of the rat Ghannouchi is that he glorifies the Iranian revolution and sanctifies Khumeini. Ennahda movement which had the name of “Islamic movement” was leading protest in support of the war of Iran against Iraq as well as sermons in mosque. Al Maarifa magazine was taking long excerpts from the sermons of Khumeini. Now that Qatar has emerged as a state ready to support these rats (of course with American directive), in order to reach power, Ennahda turned against Iran. Its supporters aren’t ashamed of spreading the rumour saying that “shiaa are disbelievers”. By God, is there any hypocrisy and opportunism with such meanness?! Hypocrites are brothers of the devils.

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  6. Anonymous_thumb

    الفزاني 2012-6-10

    Day after day, Libyans understand the catastrophe which was dug up for them.

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  7. Anonymous_thumb

    تونسي حر وحقيقي 2012-6-9

    Qatar didn’t receive some wounded people in the Tunisian revolution to treat them but just to gain fame. Ennahda movement (the treacherous agent) knows this pretty well. However, it was involved with it and went along with it because it knows that Qataris have an inferiority complex (the area of Qatar and its inhabitants = province of Kasserine!!!) In spite of the meanness of this state-province, it still intervenes in all issues: Libya, Syria, Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Lebanon just like the cat which acts and imitates the lion.

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  8. Anonymous_thumb

    الزاوية 2012-6-9

    Enough, empty state, Libya by God is lost! There is no more freedom, dignity, right or state. It is just chaos, those who want to drink alcohol do, those who want to take drugs do. It is supposed that Libyans help each other and remove these dogs, rats, NATO agents.

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  9. Anonymous_thumb

    فشلومى حر 2012-6-9

    We say to this corrupt Anonymous, Libya and its men are more honest than a million dogs like you and al-Baghdadi. You have benefited from Libya you...

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  10. Anonymous_thumb

    ابو تميم 2012-6-8

    I offer this song to anyone who thinks of betraying his nation or bringing the coloniser to destroy it by the great singer Kabanji… Kabanji – my country is dear even if it is unfair to me.

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    Anonymous 2012-6-8

    My interlocutor told me: how much has Libya gained from the revolution of February 17?? I told him: in terms of money, souls, respect or independence??? He said in the number of souls. I said: 60,000 dead people, and a bigger number of wounded people. He said “may God rest the soul of those who died and heal the wounded.” He asked: "What about the material loss??” I said “250 billion dollars.” He said in astonishment “no way!” I said “Just look on the net about headlines such as “former chief of French intelligence blames Sarkozy for the responsibility of…” He said like a mad man “do you know that 250 billion dollars banknotes of 10 pounds can cover a football pitch (100m by 5m) with a height of about 6 metres??!!! Here, my interlocutor fell unconscious. After I offered him some water, he wiped his face and rested a little, he asked me “the reputation of Libya is lost. It was deceived by the world, Sarkozy, the pig of Qatar, Hillary Clinton and the rat Abdallah. Do you know that the number of displaced Libyans has reached today 1.7 million, some of them live in a very miserable situation, others had to marry off their daughters to men they don’t really know and there are some who work in mean jobs. I said: a million and seven hundred thousand displaced people, 1.7 million o world!!! Impossible, impossible… During the revolution of Al Fateh, people came back from abroad and today they are runaway refugees!!! I lost my consciousness and I fainted.

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    simplet 2012-6-7

    May the current leaders know well that they will be ejected from the government in the same way and that they and their families will be treated in the same way – extradited, humiliated, tortured and robbed – because you are always treated like you treat others and the treatment corresponds to the people whom you go with and dubiously consort with. The people put you on the throne. You should resign when you no longer please them without any other form of trial. A person with no legitimacy cannot hope for good manners. That is how it is! The king is dead, long live the (next) king! And so on.

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    Anonymous 2012-6-6

    To rats!! Why has America alleged that it has arrested Saddam hiding in a cave hole)? Then it alleged that he was tried in Dejil case while it was destroying and raiding the city of Fellouja from all sides? Then it executed him exactly on the day of the Eid??? It repeated the same thing with Kadhafi. It has plotted to kill him in a terrible way and said we arrested him in a sewage canal (top)??? Why is the West plotting against Abdenacer, Rentissi, Yacine and Araft but it protects Saudis, Qataris and Kuwaitis??? Who benefits more from freedom including women? Is it people of Jamahirya or backward people of Saudi Arabia who are still in the era of slaves, Harim, slavery, notability and nepotism??? Where is freedom and human rights alleged by the hypocrite liar West??? If you don’t believe that what happened in Libya is a plot and base coup, you should go to the internet and look for your lady and mistress Hillary Clinton when she arrived to Tripoli two days before it is ordered to kill the leader. Headline: arrival of Hillary Clinton to Tripoli. Smell the rottenness of your dirt and meanness. Smell your rottenness o rats of the biggest disgrace!

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    ليبي حر 2012-6-3

    I am a free Libyan citizen. Al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi is a criminal. He rose his arm against me personally. I was in charge of a job. He beat me, insulted me and insulted my mother. However, God waits but doesn’t neglect. O Baghdadi, you insulted my mother, I can’t forget it. I will remind you of it. You are corrupt in the defendant's chair. The world is small. Now the (buried) will help you. God is the greatest above the tyrants!

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    Anonymous 2012-5-31

    My interlocutor told me: have you heard those who call for the extradition of al-Baghdadi al-Mahmudi??? I said, “Everything is upside down! The traitor to the nation tries the militant who defends him”. He said, “This is natural, they chose Bernard Lévi, the godfather of their revolution of February 17. Their guide is Jewish.” I said, “If the crow is the guide of a people, it will only take them to ruin.” He said, “If the crow is the guide of some people, they won’t arrive and the crow won’t arrive.” I said, “If the crow is the guide of a people, it will take them by dogs’ corpses.”

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    عمر العزيز 2012-5-30

    If guarantees for a fair trial are secured without pressure or retaliation, I support his extradition to Libya to be tried for all the cases which caused harm to the Libyan people. Then if he deserves to be sentenced to death, he should be executed without compassion or mercy so as to be a lesson for everyone who commits crimes against his people. Long live Algeria! Long live the great Algerian people! Yes, they are great!

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    Anonymous 2012-5-29

    Is our country Tunisia without character so as to extradite al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi before it is handed Ben Ali from Saudi Arabia? Where was the first revolution? Tunisia or Libya?? Originally, what happened in Libya is considered a revolution only by an idiot. It was a coup by ministers of Kadhafi with huge support from NATO. Therefore, they did two evils: the evil of the coup and the evil of seeking the help of the foreign disbeliever. To sum up, it begs belief that the innocent honest revolution of Tunisia is not responded to but the request of the leaders of a mean plot which disfigured the face of history is responded to!!! Any official who did this has trampled the dignity of Tunisia and its great historical revolution we dubbed as the revolution of dignity.

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    Anonymous 2012-5-29

    To أيمن عبد القادر محمد حسن. If you were really a free rebel, please let aside the language of haughtiness, threats and extortion which was used by your tyrant Kadhafi. Maybe you are used to his style of speech and you didn’t pay attention to its defects. Kadhafi had previously expelled Tunisians, Egyptians, Palestinians and other African nationalities. He extorted their workers, looted their money and their few belongings before he expelled them from Libya. Today, after the liberation of Libya, Libyans should put aside these hideous methods which are not in line with good neighbourhood. I agree with you when you demand the extradition of al-Baghdadi to Libya to be arraigned before justice. He is not a political refugee who ran away from injustice as it was said by the writer of another comment who uses a nickname similar to mine. Al-Baghdadi is a criminal who has run away from justice. No state of law should be involved with him to help him run away from justice because the last word is for the justice. I wished you would use your intelligence and logic to convince Tunisians to hand over al-Baghdadi without threats or menaces to close the border, expel Tunisian workers, freeze relations and other threats you didn’t express but from which I felt the smell of terrorism. You wanted to intimidate Tunisians by saying that you have toppled Kadhafi. It is true that you did this within eight and nine months thanks to the intervention of NATO forces which were demolishing tanks of Kadhafi and preventing his aircraft from flying to protect you. Many Tunisians fought on your side and no one of them supported the colonel. You know pretty well that Tunisians expelled Ben Ali in less than four weeks without any external help. Sarkozy was even preparing his forces in order to reinforce Ben Ali. Therefore, please don’t flex your muscles. I also remind you that the border you threaten to close was an outlet for Libyans who ran away from the scourges of Kadhafi in the days of revolution. About a million Libyans crossed that border. Since the Tunisian state was in a situation of crisis and didn’t have necessary facilities to host everyone, Tunisian citizens opened their hearts and houses to host them and offer them a shelter under their roof. Moreover, Tunisian hospitals treated the wounded. I wished I wouldn’t say this. I hope you understand its meaning and grasp that you were wrong if you were thinking of intimidating Tunisians. You are right in demanding the extradition of al-Baghdadi but this should be with some decorum.

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    اصيبعى حر 2012-5-29

    The extradition of al-Mahmoudi by Tunisia could be a deterrent for anyone who tries to support a regime in oppressing its people as did the buried to the Libyan people and ran away from justice.

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    من تحزب خان(القائد الشهيد)[2] 2012-5-29

    To demand his extradition since he took refuge in an Arab Muslim country whose values and principles are contrary to extraditing the refugee. However, we call upon Saudi Arabia and Qatar (which is very, very revolutionary and who hosts the second robber Sakher El Materi the son-in-law of Ben Ali????) to give back billions which were stolen by these impure corrupts. Give us back at least the funds of our country which were robbed. We don’t want these impure agents, let them there to stay away from us. Finally, we conclude with a hadith of the prophet: “The Muslim is the brother of the Muslim, he doesn’t oppress him and doesn’t hand him over. If you help your brother in need, God will help you, if you relieve the distress of a Muslim, God will relieve one of your distresses on the Day of Judgment and if you shelter a Muslim, God will shelter you in this life and the afterlife.” Peace and blessings of God be upon our master Mohammed.

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    younsi djamel 2012-5-29

    Tunisia agreed to extradite the Libyan Prime Minister, Al-Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoudi, because of the Libyan labour market, where thousands of Tunisian workers will work! The Tunisians’ interests are unscrupulous and lawless. The president and former lawyer should stop lying about the freedom democracy of the bogus Tunisian rulers!

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  22. Anonymous_thumb

    من تحزب خان(القائد الشهيد)[1] 2012-5-29

    Concerning the issue of al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi, we say that in sharia law it is forbidden to extradite the refugee. God the almighty says, “And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection then grant him protection, so that he may hear the word of Allah, and then escort him to where he can be secure.” If this is how polytheists should be treated, how would be the treatment of God with Muslims who led jihad, fought the plot, traitors, agents and crusader imperial campaign. If Tunisia were to do this. It would distort its history and profane Islam. Extraditing al-Mahmoudi is totally different from the extradition of Ben Ali who has run away to Saudi Arabia. This is because al-Mahmoudi was against the crusader alliance. As for Ben Ali, he was an agent of crusaders and even Zionists (he was the one who sold Khalil al-Ouazir as Israel felt his danger. On the night he was killed on April 16, 1988, 20 members of the Mossad with four ships, two submarines, rubber boats and two helicopters on the beach of Rouad in Tunisia close to the port of Carthage. After the arrival of Khalil al-Ouazir (alias Abu Jihad) to his home, communications of Mossad agents (on top of them Ben Ali the director of security at the time and Ahmed Bennour) were transmitting news. This huge force went to his house. They killed the guards. They went to his room. He felt their presence he took his arm but they shot him intensively (70 bullets). So he died on the spot, may God rest his soul in peace. One year before that (to be continued: see من تحزب خان(القائد الشهيد) (2).

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  23. Anonymous_thumb

    طز في الجردان 2012-5-29

    To ايمن عبدالقادر محمد حسن. You should have said to our brothers: “I swear, if you don’t hand over al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi, we will bring you NATO and attack you with it."

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    Anonymous 2012-5-29

    We don’t want your borders. We don’t want anything from you because we were generous with the man and he rebelled. Understand O Libya!!!

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  25. Anonymous_thumb

    تونسي لغتي العربية وديني الإسلام 2012-5-28

    Have mercy on those on earth and God in heaven will have mercy on you. Tunisia approves the al-Mahmoudi extradition, this is not an option for the current government or as it is circulated pure economic and social pressures. It his acts which will lead him to be punished. If he was unjust or supported injustice directly or in some other way and contributed to corruption in all its forms, he will receive what is prescribed to him by God for the rest of his life after he betrayed the covenant of his Creator without Whom he wouldn’t have reached these positions to serve humanity in his homeland. This is one of the graces of God to His creatures to distinguish some people from others to test them. However, he might have betrayed the trust of God represented by the people and messed up in some way or other. This means that this could have been done through his contribution or oppression he addressed to the sons of his homeland forgetting the power of God against oppressors. Therefore, al-Baghdadi will face what God has predestined for him in Tunisia, any other eastern, Asian or Western country or anywhere on earth including the sisterly struggling Libya. Al-Baghdadi won’t run away from punishment. He will be punished in this life before the afterlife. The Tunisian and Libyan people have nothing to do with all this. However, this man should be treated in a human way, receive a fair judgment without maltreatment or settling scores. This is because the side which will judge him will certainly get its reward some day. So if it does good righteously and reflected this, it will get a good reward. But if it does evil to him, it will certainly fall in it one day unconsciously. My point is that the side which will take care of the case of this man should fear God in him, be fair in his trial and respect the feelings of the two peoples so as to avoid politicization of this case at the expense of the citizens of the two countries and deep wounds and avoid neglecting history which bears witness to their kinship, brotherhood and love. Viva justice, justice of heaven! God is the greatest above any oppressor and tyrant! Salam.

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    صالح 2012-5-28

    These are complimentary commendable moves between Arab countries especially neighbouring countries. This is because what threatens one country threatens the other. Such steps deter those who are in power now from committing any acts that are prejudicial to their people. This man and other mean people like him who don’t know principle of values and a place for humanity have been ruling and wandering about in Libya for so long.

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    Anonymous 2012-5-27

    The extradition of the latter is a shame on we Tunisian people because he sought refuge in Tunisia so that the neighbourhood would protect him. If he is handed to the Libyan government, he will be executed immediately.

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    ايمن عبدالقادر محمد حسن 2012-5-26

    From a free rebel. We call upon Tunisian authorities to extradite al-Baghdadi. Otherwise, our response will be as follows: 1/ closing the border crossing Ras Jdir; 2/ expel the Tunisian community from Libya; 3/ freeze political and commercial relations; 4/as we toppled Kadhafi with our hands, we can carry out our decisions with our own hands. So let al-Baghdadi help you Tunisians! O Lord bear witness that I have transmitted.

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    Anonymous 2012-5-25

    There is a saying as old as the world that goes: “The misfortune of one is the happiness of others”. This saying perfectly applies to the profession of an undertaker. It seems that undertakers have a special prayer they say before going to bed at night: they pray to God that the sick people do not wake up tomorrow morning because death is what secures life for undertakers. I wonder what the prayer for lawyers is. We can only give free rein to their fancies. But, one thing is sure: if it weren’t for criminals, scammers, murderers, rapists, paedophiles, war criminals and other gallows-deserving big-time criminals, lawyers would have a les comfortable life or would have to find another profession. Béchir Essid, the lawyer of Al Mahmoudi is privileged because he and his colleague, Kourchid, had the opportunity to hit the jackpot. Both of them have a big fish on their hooks. Their colleagues have to make do with small criminals and are green with jealousy. Should we then be surprised if Master Essid treats his criminal like a precious gift from heaven, who impunity he wants to ensure. If he succeeds in shielding Al Mahmoudi from the Libyan courts, his reputation among criminals will only be better served. I will not argue against this market logic. But, where I do have reservations is when Béchir Essid is incapable to produce legal arguments or evidence of his client’s innocents and takes to patriotic blackmail. Claiming that extraditing the accomplice of Kadhafi knocks on the “dignity of the Tunisian people and their revolution” is an obscenity. Al Mahmoudi was the accomplice of an abominable tyrant, whom he served to the very end. He should be held accountable for his actions before the courts of his country. This is also what the Tunisians want for Ben Ali.

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