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Fact about Al-Shabaab

Al-Shabaab (which roughly translates as "Youth") is an extreme Islamist movement that previously controlled large parts of Somalia.

It is classified as a terrorist organization by several western countries.

Al-Shabaab has attacked peacekeeping troops from the African Union leading to the murder of peace activists, aid workers and journalists.

The group is suspected to be behind several suicide attacks in recent months in Somalia.

Swedish Foreign Ministry criticized for its handling of Somalia Swedes taken over by the Americans

Monday, 24 December 2012
Swedish foreign office has been slammed for the ways it has handled issue related to the two Swedes of Somali extraction indicted in the U.S. on suspicion of terrorist crimes in Somalia.

A brother of one of the men told the Swedish news agency TT that Sweden missed the chance to get them home - and that they were in fact fleeing from the terrorist organisation, Al-Shabaab.

A 27-year-old and a 29-year-old, two Swedish nationals with Somalia background were taken over by the Americans yesterday accused of terrorist crimes in a federal court in New York.

They are accused of having helped the militant rebel group al-Shabaab in Somalia, which is branded terrorist organisation by the U.S.. The prosecutor is said to be sure that these Somalis Swedes are "real terrorists."
Img: Al-Shabaab organisation, SVT

The 29-year-old, who lived in the Stockholm area, was recruited to al-Shabaab, four years ago - something that had upset his family, according to media reports.

Through relatives in Somalia, the brother learned that the two Swedes, who knew each other before, realized that the promised freedom struggle was in fact prison.

"They witnessed people who have tried to get away from the organisation accused of spying and were shot. They did not want to end up in a coffin, so they kept a low profile and waited for the right time to leave," says the brother of the 29-year-old.
According to him, the moment came last summer, after the two men had spent months in prison after al-Shabaab had suspected them.

The report follows that a 23-year-old British Somalis, who also stands accused in the U.S. was also close to the Swede. Once out of the Somalia, he was arrested in Djibouti and interrogated by both American and local authorities, the American lawyer of the 29-year-old Ephraim Savitt is reported to have said.

Although the Swedish Foreign Office got connected and discussed with the Djibouti authority, who said he was willing to let the Swedes return to Sweden, it never happened, according to the lawyer, Thomas Olsson representing the two families in Sweden.

In the middle of November, news came that both men had been extradited to the United States.
"It is deeply unfortunate that they were not allowed to return and to me, it is inexplicable that they were transferred to the United States because they committed no crimes against American targets," said Olsson, who is now waiting for a response from the Swedish foreign ministry on how the negotiations really happened - and what went on.

The Swedish Foreign office has initially claimed that Sweden "did not had any opportunity" to influence the outcome.
by Scancomark.com Team

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