Egypt

Sit-in for Egyptian cleric from 1993 NY attack

Around 100 Islamists have protested near the US Embassy in Cairo against the detention of Egyptian-born Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, serving a life sentence in the US for a plot to blow up New York City landmarks.

Known as the "Blind Sheik," he was the spiritual leader of men convicted in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

Supporters of the 73 year-old sheik say they will not end their sit-in until he is repatriated to Egypt on humanitarian grounds.

Abdel-Rahman is diabetic and while in prison has waged hunger strikes and shunned his insulin.

His son, Mohamed, told reporters on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that Abdel-Rahman is a victim of ousted President Hosni Mubarak's anti-Islamist policies, and his close ties to the US helped ensure his arrest.

Related Articles

Back to top button