Yemeni government petitions Egypt to extradite Al-Hakimi [Archives:2007/1073/Front Page]
By: Yemen Times Staff
SANA'A, August 1 ) Yemeni opponent Abullah Al-Hakimi, residing in Egypt since 2005, revealed that Yemen petitioned Egyptian authorities for his extradition according to security agreements signed by both sides, noting the request was made by Yemeni Interior Minster Rashad Al-Alimi in a meeting with Egyptian officials last week. The same request was put before Egyptian President Husni Mubarak.
Al-Hakimi made clear that Yemen is bargaining with Egypt to hand over Egyptian terrorists wanted by Egyptian authorities in return for extraditing Al-Hakimi, revealing such measures by Yemeni authorities face legal complications including lack of legal evidence as Al-Hakimi's passport was seized from him and now he enjoys international protection from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
He added that the security agreement signed by both countries is not applicable to him as it applies exclusively to terrorists, something Al-Hakimi denies being. Thus, the Yemeni request is baseless.
Concluding his statement, Al-Hakimi declared it is regrettable that Yemen used to bargain with terrorists enjoying the country's protection in order to blackmail other countries, hinting such measures reveal the extent of oppression to which Yemeni opponents are subjected.
He went on to say, “If the regime wants my return why does not President Saleh request me to do so? There is nothing preventing my return. I am not a criminal, thief or killer owever, they do so in order to abuse me and violate my rights.”
Media sources mentioned Yemen's current request for Al-Hakimi's extradition is not their first. However, past attempts were unsuccessful because Al-Hakimi is listed as an opponent and has resided in Egypt for a long time.
Al-Hakimi told Ilaf electronic paper that Egyptian authorities informed him of Yemen renewing its request to extradite him, adding he was not aware of any previous requests.
He stated the Yemeni Embassy in Cairo withdrew his diplomatic passport five months ago and declined to renew or return it. The Embassy also conditioned his abandoning writings that criticize the regime in Sana'a.
Al-Hakimi also revealed that he informed the Egyptian authorities that the security agreement between Yemen and Egypt is not applicable to him as he is a political foe and not a terrorist.
Socialist member of the Yemeni Parliament Sultan Al-Sam'ae questioned the seizure of Al-Hakimi's diplomatic passport and demanded Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi to investigate the reasons for which the passport was confiscated and the standards upon which people are granted diplomatic passports.
Al-Sam'ae added that the insistence of the Foreign Ministry not to renew Al-Hakimi's passport is an attempt at silencing and preventing him from publishing his political opinions through the media. He considered such a measure by the government to be evidence of the state's political and ethical bankruptcy as well as a violation of effective constitutional law.
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