A federal judge specialized in immigration in the state of Florida, USA, rejected the release on bail of an engineering student of Egyptian origin Yusuf Mujahid, after being accused of 'engaging in terrorism', despite the fact that a federal jury had acquitted him of the same charges. The Wall Street Journal said, "Mujahid is now facing the same charges before a court of competent immigration experts, and if convicted he will be deported to his native Egypt." The newspaper added, in a report prepared by Joel Mehlman yesterday, "The reorientation of the charges against Mujahid provoked Muslim immigrant communities. The case is becoming famous because it relates to Egypt which President Barack Obama is preparing to visit within days."
The main question now is: Is it possible for a migrant to be acquitted in US courts, and then arrested for the same charges and be tried before the Court of immigration, while ignoring the provision of protection for individuals of their right not to be tried twice for the same charges, based on the same evidence, as is happening with Mujahid?!
Mujahid had been arrested in the state of South Carolina with another Egyptian student, Ahmed Mohammed, while driving a car that was said to have contained explosive materials. These so called 'explosive materials' were only home-made fireworks the two students had planned to play with during the holiday. Later, Muhammad acknowledged that he pleaded guilty to providing material support for terrorism and was sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment, while charges were dismissed on the transfer of explosives. Mujaheid denied the accusations completely and was acquitted on April 3 where he was released on bail after he had spent nine months in prison before his trial. The newspaper reported that after three days of the acquittal of Mujahid, he was arrested again at the hands of some customers when he was shopping with his father. He was charged with a crime related to terrorism. Under US law, Mujahid does not have the same rights as citizens to ensure their not trialed twice for the same charges and the same evidence. The newspaper quoted Charles Luck, Mujahid's lawyer, who said, "The Immigration Department has been unable to bring criminal charges against his client and, therefore, officials went to the accusations of terrorism, as such a charge does not require a lot of evidence or legal proceedings."
