Ethiopia’s S. Court approves sentences against 6 “terrorists”

Feb 22, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Federal Supreme Court today approved the Federal High Court (FHC) sentences passed against six people who carried out terrorist attacks in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa 1996.

The FHC pronounced death sentences against five and imprisoned one to 25 years in jail, the Ethiopian TV said.

Those who were sentenced to death by the Federal Supreme Court’s criminal bench for committing terrorist crimes were: Mohamed Mahmoud Farah, Mohamed Hassan Mahmoud, Ibrahim Hussein Nalai, Mohamed Almi Liben and Mohammad Ahmed Ibrahim.

The court, in its ruling, said that the death sentences pronounced by the Federal High Court on 3 April and 11 April 2002 found it appropriate and correct. The supreme court also approved the sentence pronounced on the sixth defendant, Abdi Nur Mohamed Ado.

The Supreme Court in its ruling said that the defendants not only caused the death of several people but also terrorized the public and government. The court, in its ruling, said that the defendants in their terrorist attacks threatened the peace and stability of the country and endangered the sovereignty of the country as well.

The Supreme Court said that the courts should pass strict and sever sentences against such criminals. The court said the sentence should match the serious crimes committed and should also serve as a serious warning against similar terrorists.

(ST)