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Samih
Ossaily
The official Site.
The
so-called Al-Qaeda Link with Antwerp & Diamonds.
For
everyone that doesn't know me, here's a small introduction. I am
Belgian and originally Lebanese. I was born and raised in Koïdu Town,
Sierra Leone. This is one of the richest diamond mining areas of
Sierra Leone. My father was a diamond dealer and I started doing rough
diamond business from a very early age. I've always worked within the
African continent. I've been coming to Belgium since I was a very
young boy and I lived here for over 20 years. I never really lived in
Lebanon, in total I spent there only 5 years.
I was married for 7 years to a Belgian woman and had two children with
her. A very ugly custody battle turned in to
a battle against the
world.
***
It
all started by my ex-wife in the battle for visitation right of my 2
children. She told the judge that I was a terrorist and he ordered an
investigation. She wants at all costs the full custody of the children
but she never knew the consequences of those words. Especially with
September 11, it became bigger than she could ever dream of.
Not long after, on November 2nd, 2001 this article was
published.
Al-Qaeda
cash tied to diamond trade by Douglas Farah, The Washington
Post, November 2, 2001(English)
Really, the first time that I read this article, I laughed! I couldn't
believe that it was actually me that they were talking about, 90% of
this article is not true (Just as if my Ex-wife had a meeting
with Farah Douglas). Check and double check is not anymore a part of a
journalists vocabulary! They hear a word and make up a story that they
call freedom of speech! All what Farah Douglas did was playing words
and changing names. There is no following line in the story and he
jumps from one thing to another. It never had anything to do
with the truth what so ever.
The International Peace Information Service, based in Antwerp under
Johan Peleman, analyzed the article and tried to clear up the missing
parts.
Antwerp,
Blamed again by Christian Dietrich and Peter Dansaert, IPIS
& Diamondstudies.com, November 16, 2001(English)
Johan Peleman is also a weapons expert and a representative for the
United Nations.
Douglas Farah admit to me personally that he had no proof or bases for
his article and promised me that he would make a new and correct
article. The new article came but there was no sign of correction.
Surprise, surprise!
Digging up Congo's dirty gems by Farah Douglas, December 30, 2001 (English)
Farah was interrogated by the High Diamond Council (HRD) about what he
wrote in the article. He answered again that he doesn't have any
foundation to base himself on. Meaning, no proof, no evidence and a
sincere (hum) apology to the HRD. But this one we are still waiting
for. Mean
while Johan Peleman was Interviewed by De Standaard on the 5th of
January 2002 and was asked the following question: Last
month, Antwerp made the international news when the Washington Post
reported that Usama Bin Ladin's al-Qa'ida network had laundered terror
money through the Antwerp diamond market what is your comment? Peleman
answered the following: The
article was published at the time that our (UN) panel presented its
report on Liberia in New York. All at once, all questions were about Bin
Ladin. At that time, I said I had no data corroborating the report. Some
NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) were annoyed at me because of this.
They said I had missed a unique opportunity to get blood diamonds on top
of the political agenda (Peleman laughs -- De Standaard editor's note).
But I am an expert, and not a politician. The Washington Post reporter
has since visited me, and I have to admit: I think it is more than just
an unfounded rumor. Yet it remains difficult to find evidence: There
are no fingerprints on diamonds. That is why it is such an attractive
investment for Mafiosi and warring parties. During the civil war in
Lebanon, entire militias were financed via money-laundering operations
in Sierra Leone. (Click
here for Johan Peleman full interview)
Belgian
senate Parliamentary research commission, HRD Audition January 11, 2002 (French,
Dutch) PDF
Belgian
senate Parliamentary research commission, Christian Dietrich Audition January 11, 2002(French, English, Dutch) Belgian
senate Parliamentary research commission, HRD Audition June 21, 2002 (French, Dutch)
PDF (Search For OSSAILY)
In the session of January 11, 2002 high people in the diamond world
were skeptical about my involvement in any terrorist organization.
Peter Meeus from the HRD said that in the investigation from the
United Nations showed that there is no link found with Al-Qaeda. This
investigation sent 5 people to 10 different African countries spread
over a period of 18 months. He mentioned that Johan Peleman does
not believe that there is a connection between me and Al-Qaeda.
If the Belgian court has more information it would come as a surprise
for him. This already shows the contradiction to Farah's articles and
the Contradiction of other individuals.
The NGO Global Witness also did an investigation and published a
report without talking to me first. Conclusion, a lot of air but still
nothing concrete, just as the official report (can't be specified for
security reasons). Global witness tried hard but not hard enough,
again they admit making many mistakes and they promised me a
correction but until now, nothing. (Who would have guessed!)
For
a few dollars more: How Al-Qaeda moved into the diamond trade
by Global Witness, may 2003.(English) PDF
On April 11, 2002 I was arrested and I spent 15 months in
prison. I still don't know why. Until today I didn't see any proof or
evidence against me. The day they show me what I did wrong I will
accept it but never before that. The Belgian court kept me
incarcerated under pressure of the United States. This is what the
Belgian vice- minister of foreign affairs said in a TV program on RTBF,
Au nom de la loi: Les Armes du
diamant, June 4, 2003. Suddenly no one knows anymore why
they had to arrest me in the first place. But hey, that's ok, the only
thing it did to me was that I can't see my children and my name will
always be linked with Al-Qaeda.
More than one of my fundamental rights were violated in Belgium,
a country that is supposed to be democratic, a country that is
supposed to have a good legal system and qualified judges and
magistrates. It's a joke! They have the power to do whatever they want
or feel like.
The
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, December 10, 1948(English)
I have contacted several people and organizations such as the Human
Rights organizations, embassies (I am originally Lebanese with Belgian
citizenship). No one could do anything and actually until today I am
still waiting to hear from them.
How can I ever proof my innocence if no one wants to listen to me. I
can shout as loud as I can, no one will listen. The worst part is that
I'm not alone in this struggle. My family is also affected, having the
name Ossaily is not so common anymore. The closest people to me were
dragged down together with me and there is nothing I can do about it.
They tried to break me and maybe they broke everything around me but
they will never break my spirit, my character and my person.
They made a very big mistake in choosing me as an example. I will
fight for an acquittal!
***
One of million reasons why I never worked for Al-Qaeda and never will.
I am a Shiite Muslim. During the occupation of Afghanistan by the
Russians, Osama Bin Laden eliminated and murdered as many Shiites as
he possibly could. How could I ever work for someone who killed my
people? How can I ever betray my family's religion?
If he ever invested in diamonds to assure his wealth, it had
nothing to do with me what so ever!
During the first house search from the Federal Police I was in
Lebanon. My father had been suffering from liver cancer for the last
year and he passed away in February 2002. My fiancée called to tell
me that she had a visit from the police. I had no idea at all what was
going on and I left my fathers' funeral to find out. Question: If I
really did a crime, would I come back to Belgium? Would I not stay
right where I was, in Lebanon? After Douglas Farah's Propaganda failed
he tried to flame again this story by the last article he
published.
Al-Qaida
Tied to Africa Diamonds Trade. By Douglas Farah The Washington Post 30
December 2002 ( English)
***
The most important thing for me is that I can show my children, whom I
didn't see for 4 years, the truth. That I am not the terrorist and
criminal that people made me. They know I was in prison but they don't
know I'm innocent. The day I will see my precious children, I will
have to explain why all this happened to me and why it caused for them
to miss their father. It will not be easy but I have the documents and
paperwork to proof that what I say is true. CAN I ASK GEORGE W. BUSH WHY DID HE DO THAT TO ME?
The full and complete story will be published in my book after the
trial. By the end of 2004 this should be finished and than everyone
will know the ending of this Media war.Seeking
A Sponsor To Continue My Book
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CONFLICT
DIAMONDS - BLOOD OIL
Nora V - 24.01.2004
After the question « What is the
difference between Conflict Diamonds and Blood Diamonds? » I got a
response that there is no way to find out because not conflict neither
blood Diamonds are mentioned in the dictionary. Did you hear about them
before 9/11? Not me! Of course it’s not in the dictionary!
Just like the word terrorism it is something suddenly everyone talks
about. It wouldn’t surprise me neither that terrorism is also not in
the dictionary! All of a sudden everything has to do with terrorism and
even honest and hard working people are locked up as terrorists because
their trade could possible have something to do with financing or
contributing to a terrorist organization.
This whole ‘witch hunt’ is a political game where George W Bush has
control of. Samih Ossaily is someone who was just in the wrong
place at the wrong time, that doesn’t mean that he is a terrorist!
That’s why it is very dangerous to base yourself on the media in such
stories. Journalists don’t know the criminal file at all and of course
they prefer to write about the most sensational story first.
If it has to go about diamonds, I ask myself the question if anyone ever
before was convicted of breaking a UN Embargo. If I understand correctly,
than the embargo on Liberia was affected on 07/05/2001, one month after
Ossaily was back in Belgium. How can he be convicted than? And still,
the moment that conflict Diamonds are brought into e.g. Belgium they are
declared by the customs. From the moment they are declared, they become
official Diamonds and are even supported by the government.
Anyone in their right mind should stand against the charges of Samih
Ossaily because it is obviously a political strategy to win the
economical war. Belgium has enough economical problems that we shouldn’t
welcome the people that want to make it worse. Maybe it will all become
clear when the World Diamond Center is not located anymore next to the
Antwerp City Park but next to Central Park in New York.
Anyone who has a little bit of insight in the religion knows that those
two do not get along! As well Bin Laden as Saddam Hussein, who is a
Sunni Muslim, killed as many Shiites as possible. Would you work for
your enemy? Not me !
Anyway, don’t be too fast in believing what the media tells you to
believe because more than half is made up. From my own experience I know
that most journalists just write what they think people want to hear or
read.
Don’t be in the category of people who in 5 years will say that 10
years ago 3000 African children under the age of 6 died from starvation
because than it will be too late (as usual). Today so many people
believe that the so-called terrorists are for real. In 1954 there was a
man who believed the earth was flat. He tried to convince many people of
his believe but not too long after he had to admit the earth was round
because he saw the proofs in front of him. Not long from now, many
people will admit that Samih Ossaily is innocent.
I received a link from someone who believes that Samih Ossaily is
guilty. A link to an article of Amnesty International. I did not look
for the article because I don’t believe that those days Amnesty Int’l
does what they are supposed to do, which is help people. Why didn’t
they help Samih Ossaily when he was in prison for 15 months? Watch it,
everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Why did they
take it upon them selves to take on the duties of a judge? Which right
do they have to take away someone else’s right?
To close up, I have one more question mark. People doubt if there is a
difference between conflict Diamonds and blood Diamonds. Is there a
difference between conflict Diamonds and Blood oil?
'Freedom's
just another word for nothing left to loose' J.J.
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Copyright ©2004 Samih
Ossaily. All Rights Reserved
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