Arab News

WASHINGTON, 28 June 2003 — Mohamed Al-Qudhaieen, the Saudi student who was arrested two weeks ago by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Tucson, Arizona, has been transferred to a detention facility in Alexandria, Virginia, which is also the center for legal actions involving terror investigations.

Although the legal brief connected with Al-Qudhaieen’s case is under seal, the FBI and federal prosecutors in Alexandria are investigating the Saudi’s possible link with terrorist activities.

Al-Qudhaieen’s lawyer in Virginia, Fred St. Claire, told Arab News that because the court orders are under seal, “I’m not at liberty to comment on any facts at this time because the status of his hearing is under seal (of a court order).” He suggested Arab News contact him next week when he would be at liberty to speak more openly.

Without being specific, St. Claire added: “But there may be an opportunity to clear the mess up somewhat quickly.”

He added that Al-Qudhaieen’s hearing is pending and “we’re trying to resolve something with the government which is still under seal.”

St. Claire said that he has not spoken directly with Al-Qudhaieen’s wife, but said she was shocked when her husband was arrested by the FBI on June 13.

The lawyer added that in Al-Qudhaieen’s case, he is probably not directly linked to suspected terrorism, but is likely a person swept up in a case of “so-and-so who knows so-and-so who might know so-and-so.”

If this is the case, then it would appear that Al-Qudhaieen is being held under the government’s Material Witness statute, which allows the federal government to hold people for questioning.

It remains unclear, however, whether Al-Qudhaieen is being held for a criminal offense or as a material witness.

Al-Qudhaieen is an acquaintance of Zakaria Soubra, another former Arizona State student who was also the focus of an investigation by FBI agents.