Abdelghani Mzoudi
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Abdelghani Mzoudi (sometimes transliterated Abdul Ghani Mzoudi) (Arabic: عبد الغني مزودي) was an alleged member of Al-Qaeda and an associate of Mohammed Atta, the lead pilot in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
In 1999, Mzoudi lived in the Hamburg Cell, an apartment owned by Atta, where many of the organizers of the September 11, 2001 attacks met and planned their future. His specific role in the attacks has not been determined, but he does not seem to have attempted to enter the United States at any time.
Mzoudi was captured and tried in Germany, along with Mounir El Motassadeq, on charges relating to the 9/11 attacks. In their trials, both claimed Ramzi Binalshibh, a key planner of the attacks, would have given statements indicating their innocence. Both asked for the United States to present Binalshibh as a witness, and the judge agreed that this was a reasonable request. Although the German Justice Ministry pressed the U.S. to present Binalshibh, the United States refused, and Mzoudi was thereby acquitted in February of 2004. Some observers believe that he would have been convicted had Binalshibh been made available as a witness. Ziad Jarrah's fiancee Aysel Sengün testified at Mzoudi's trial.[1]
In June 2005, a German federal appeals court upheld the acquittal due to insufficient evidence for retrial. The German Interior Ministry was seeking to deport Mzoudi, though the defense team was considering asking for asylum.
Mzoudi was finally deported to Morocco where he now lives.
[edit] External links
- The Final 9/11 Commission Report
- Mzoudi's acquittal
- Acquittal of 9/11 suspect upheld, BBC, 9 June 2005
