Khalid Mahmood Rashid
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Khalid Mahmood Rashid is a Pakistani national who went missing in South Africa during November 2005, and was later discovered to have been extradited to Pakistan. The South African government only admitted to this in June 2006,[1] and then only after being ordered to do so by the High Court in Pretoria.[2] His lawyer, Zehir Omar, has raised concerns that South Africa was taking part in the United States' program of extraordinary rendition,[3] and has also started a legal battle to force the Department of Home Affairs to release more information about his client's disappearance,[4] even going so far as to petition the International Criminal Court to investigate the matter.[5]
In June 2006 City Press said Rashid was deemed an "extremely dangerous and mentally unstable member of al-Qaeda" and that he further "obtained explosives and recruited South Africans to join al-Qaeda." His arrest followed a number of other terrorism-related incidents, both in Pakistan and South Africa.[6]
The South African Department of Home Affairs has responded by claiming that it was a simple deportation, and in line with international practices relating to illegal immigration.[7] Aziz Pahad, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for South Africa, acknowledged the amount of publicity this case has generated, both locally and internationally, and admitted that many people were inclined to believed that South Africa endorsed the extraordinary rendition programme.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ "Home affairs releases some info on Rashid", Independent Online (South Africa), 6 June 2006. Retrieved on 2006-06-13.
- ^ "Minister to report on Rashid soon", [[Independent Online (South Africa)|]], 5 June 2006. Retrieved on 2006-06-13.
- ^ "Lawyer: South Africa Involved in 'Rendition' of Pakistani", Voice of America, 8 June 2006. Retrieved on 2006-06-13.
- ^ "Rashid deportation case back in court", Mail & Guardian, 3 June 2006. Retrieved on 2006-06-13.
- ^ "ICC asked to probe Rashid case", Mail & Guardian, 12 June 2006. Retrieved on 2006-06-13.
- ^ "Rashid had been in SA before", City Press, via News24, 11 June 2006. Retrieved on 2006-06-13.
- ^ South African Department of Home Affairs (18 January 2006). Statement on Mr Khalid Mahmood Rashid’s deportation to Pakistan. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-06-13.
- ^ "Rashid case negative for SA internationally", Independent Online (South Africa), 13 June 2006. Retrieved on 2006-06-13.
