SANAA, Yemen, April 3 (UPI) -- A Yemeni convicted of financing terrorism complained of mistreatment in his U.S. jail, urging official pressure by the Yemeni government to secure his release.
Sheikh Mohammed Moayed, who is serving a prison sentence of 75 years in a Colorado jail, was quoted by his son Ibrahim as complaining of ill-treatment and deterioration in health.
Ibrahim told daily September 26 Monday that his father contacted the family recently and informed them that the prison authorities barred him from meeting with his defense lawyer in private, and that their talks were held behind glass while he was handcuffed.
"My father told the lawyer that no barriers should exist between them to debate how they are going to proceed with the appeal, but the latter appeared pessimistic about any success in the appeal unless there were political pressures," Ibrahim said.
He said his father urged him to inform Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh about the development of his case, which needs political pressure more than law.
In a related development, Yemeni lawyer Khaled al-Onssi said Monday the U.S. embassy refused to grant him an entry visa to join the team defending and following up Moayed's case.
He said the foreign ministry addressed a memorandum to the U.S. embassy in Sanaa, stressing Yemen's insistence on following up the case of its citizen held in American jails through lawyers it appointed.
In the memorandum, the ministry renewed demands for granting al-Onssi an entry visa to be able to join U.S. lawyers defending Moayed in the appeal phase.
