26 Americans, mostly CIA agents, charged for kidnapping in Italy
{{date|February 16, 2007}}
[[Image:CIA.svg|thumb|right|150px|CIA seal.]]
On Friday an Italian judge ordered 26 Americans, a [[w:CIA|CIA]]-led team, to stand trial for kidnapping of [[w:Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr|Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr]] in 2003. He was brought to [[Egypt]] where he says he was tortured as a subject to CIA "[[w:Extraordinary rendition|rendition]]". He was later released. Also on trial is  [[w:Nicolo Pollari|Nicolo Pollari]], [[Italy]]'s former spy chief, and members of the [[w:SISMI|SISMI]] military intelligence agency.

This is the first criminal trial over "renditions", aspects of the Bush administration's "war on terror". One of the defendants [[w:Robert Seldon Lady|Robert Seldon Lady]], the former CIA station chief in Milan, said via his lawyer that he did not recognize the court.
{{QuoteLeft|I have been reduced to a wreck of a human being.|4=[[w:Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr|Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr]]}}
Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, a Muslim cleric also known as Abu Omar was taken by a CIA-led team in Milan on 17 February, 2003 and allegedly transferred by vehicle to the Aviano Air Base near Venice, later by air to the Ramstein Air Base in [[Germany]], and lastly sent to Egypt. He was released from prison on Sunday and says that he would like to return to Italy.  He also said he has been tortured with electric shocks, beatings, rape threats and genital abuse, and that "I have been reduced to a wreck of a human being."

Though Mr. Nasr was under investigation for terrorism-related activities at the time of his abduction no charges have been brought against him. Italian officials says Nasr was suspected of recruiting fighters for radical Islamic causes and fought in [[Afghanistan]] and [[Bosnia]]. Montasser al-Zayat, lawyer, said Nasr had only traveled to [[Jordan]], [[Yemen]], [[Albania]] and Germany. 

==Related news==
*{{Wikinews|title=Italian intelligence chief arrested over CIA kidnap|date=July 5, 2006}}
*{{Wikinews|title=CIA "rendition" confirmed in Europe|date=January 25, 2006}}

==Sources==
{{wikipediapar|Imam Rapito}}
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1677039420070216?src=021607_0946_DOUBLEFEATURE_top_news
|title=FACTBOX-Italy's CIA kidnap case
|author=|pub=Reuters
|date=February 16, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/93807C2A-F6B8-4D4E-B14A-0264B5F917A5.htm
|title='CIA agents' face abduction trial
|author=
|pub=Al Jazeera
|date=February 16, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6420272,00.html
|title=31 to Stand Trial in CIA Kidnapping Case
|author=Colleen Barry
|pub=Guardian Unlimited
|date=February 16, 2007}}

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[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Italy]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Egypt]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:CIA]]

[[fr:26 Américains et 9 Italiens renvoyés devant un tribunal, pour l'enlèvement d'un imam en 2003]]
[[it:26 cittadini USA, molti agenti della CIA, accusati di rapimento nel caso Abu Omar]]
CIA seal.
On Friday an Italian judge ordered 26 Americans, a CIA-led team, to stand trial for kidnapping of Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr in 2003. He was brought to Egypt where he says he was tortured as a subject to CIA "rendition". He was later released. Also on trial is  Nicolo Pollari, Italy's former spy chief, and members of the SISMI military intelligence agency.

This is the first criminal trial over "renditions", aspects of the Bush administration's "war on terror". One of the defendants Robert Seldon Lady, the former CIA station chief in Milan, said via his lawyer that he did not recognize the court.

Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, a Muslim cleric also known as Abu Omar was taken by a CIA-led team in Milan on 17 February, 2003 and allegedly transferred by vehicle to the Aviano Air Base near Venice, later by air to the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, and lastly sent to Egypt. He was released from prison on Sunday and says that he would like to return to Italy.  He also said he has been tortured with electric shocks, beatings, rape threats and genital abuse, and that "I have been reduced to a wreck of a human being."

Though Mr. Nasr was under investigation for terrorism-related activities at the time of his abduction no charges have been brought against him. Italian officials says Nasr was suspected of recruiting fighters for radical Islamic causes and fought in Afghanistan and Bosnia. Montasser al-Zayat, lawyer, said Nasr had only traveled to Jordan, Yemen, Albania and Germany.
Crime and law Politics and conflicts Italy United States Egypt Middle East North America CIA