Latest news with #Masoud
Libya Review
4 days ago
- Libya Review
Lockerbie Trial for Libyan Bombing Suspect Delayed to April 2026
The trial of Abu Ajila Masoud, the Libyan man accused of making the bomb that destroyed Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988, has been postponed until April 2026. The decision was made jointly by the prosecution and defence, citing the defendant's health and the case's complex international nature. Masoud, who is in his early seventies and holds dual Libyan-Tunisian citizenship, was expected to appear before a US jury in Washington last month. However, the proceedings were delayed due to his non-life-threatening medical condition and the intricate legal and evidentiary issues surrounding the case. Masoud has pleaded not guilty to charges of constructing the explosive device that caused the death of 270 people, including 259 on board and 11 residents of Lockerbie in Scotland. The incident remains the deadliest terrorist attack in UK history. US prosecutors allege that Masoud, while jailed in Libya in 2012, confessed to working for Libyan intelligence and admitted to assembling the bomb. He also allegedly named two accomplices: Abdelbasset Al-Megrahi and Al Amin Khalifah Fhimah. Megrahi was convicted in 2001 and released in 2009 on compassionate grounds before dying in 2012. Fhimah was acquitted. Both US and Scottish prosecutors identified Masoud as a suspect in 2015, following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime. He was formally charged in 2020 and taken into US custody in 2022 after being seized from his home by an armed Libyan militia. Lawyers have requested early deadlines for legal motions, including efforts to suppress Masud's alleged confession. The US District Court for the District of Columbia acknowledged that the pre-trial schedule would be non-standard due to the international scope of the case. Masoud remains in US custody pending trial. Tags: Abu Ajila MasoudlibyaLockerbieus
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Anwar receives Aidiladha greetings from Iranian president, reaffirms support for Palestine
KUALA LUMPUR: In the spirit of Aidiladha, which upholds the values of sacrifice and justice, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed appreciation for the steadfastness of Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian in defending the plight of the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. In a phone call with Masoud on Thursday, Anwar said Malaysia stands firmly with Iran in strongly rejecting all forms of occupation and the ongoing expulsion of Gaza's people, who continue to be oppressed by the Zionist Israeli regime. "I also conveyed that Malaysia's foreign policy is not dictated by external powers but is built on national interests and firm convictions. "Malaysia condemns the hypocrisy of certain countries that claim to uphold human rights yet silently allow mass killings without any dignified action. Silence in the face of oppression is a betrayal of universal human values," he said in a statement on Facebook. Anwar said Masoud also extended Aidiladha greetings for the celebration on Saturday. Anwar prayed that haj pilgrims from both nations currently in the holy city of Makkah would be granted a blessed haj and contribute to the development of the 'Ummah' upon returning to their respective countries. The prime minister also expressed gratitude to Masoud for his noble efforts in facilitating the repatriation of two Malaysian citizens previously detained in Iran. He said during the conversation, he conveyed appreciation to Masoud following the recent visits by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir to Tehran, as part of joint efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation. He noted that the cooperation spans education, technology, food security, trade, investment and the oil and gas sector. "In the same discussion, Malaysia welcomes the decision to resume Mahan Air flights from Tehran to Kuala Lumpur, which will undoubtedly open more opportunities and avenues for economic ties and people-to-people connections," he said.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Anwar receives Aidiladha greetings from Iranian President, reaffirms support for Palestine
KUALA LUMPUR: In the spirit of Aidiladha, which upholds the values of sacrifice and justice, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed appreciation for the steadfastness of Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian in defending the plight of the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. In a phone call with Masoud earlier, Anwar said Malaysia stands firmly with Iran in strongly rejecting all forms of occupation and the ongoing expulsion of Gaza's people, who continue to be oppressed by the Zionist Israeli regime. 'I also conveyed that Malaysia's foreign policy is not dictated by external powers but is built on national interests and firm convictions. 'Malaysia condemns the hypocrisy of certain countries that claim to uphold human rights yet silently allow mass killings without any dignified action. Silence in the face of oppression is a betrayal of universal human values,' he said in a statement on Facebook. Anwar said Masoud also extended Aidiladha greetings for the celebration on Saturday. Anwar prayed that hajj pilgrims from both nations currently in the holy city of Makkah would be granted a blessed hajj and contribute to the development of the 'Ummah' upon returning to their respective countries. The prime minister also expressed gratitude to Masoud for his noble efforts in facilitating the repatriation of two Malaysian citizens previously detained in Iran. He said during the conversation, he conveyed appreciation to Masoud following the recent visits by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir to Tehran, as part of joint efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation. He noted that the cooperation spans education, technology, food security, trade, investment and the oil and gas sector. 'In the same discussion, Malaysia welcomes the decision to resume Mahan Air flights from Tehran to Kuala Lumpur, which will undoubtedly open more opportunities and avenues for economic ties and people-to-people connections,' he said.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Anwar receives Aidiladha greetings from Iranian President
KUALA LUMPUR: In the spirit of Aidiladha, which upholds the values of sacrifice and justice, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed appreciation for the steadfastness of Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian in defending the plight of the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. In a phone call with Masoud earlier, Anwar said Malaysia stands firmly with Iran in strongly rejecting all forms of occupation and the ongoing expulsion of Gaza's people, who continue to be oppressed by the Zionist Israeli regime. 'I also conveyed that Malaysia's foreign policy is not dictated by external powers but is built on national interests and firm convictions. 'Malaysia condemns the hypocrisy of certain countries that claim to uphold human rights yet silently allow mass killings without any dignified action. Silence in the face of oppression is a betrayal of universal human values,' he said in a statement on Facebook. Anwar said Masoud also extended Aidiladha greetings for the celebration on Saturday. Anwar prayed that hajj pilgrims from both nations currently in the holy city of Makkah would be granted a blessed hajj and contribute to the development of the 'Ummah' upon returning to their respective countries. The prime minister also expressed gratitude to Masoud for his noble efforts in facilitating the repatriation of two Malaysian citizens previously detained in Iran. He said during the conversation, he conveyed appreciation to Masoud following the recent visits by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir to Tehran, as part of joint efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation. He noted that the cooperation spans education, technology, food security, trade, investment and the oil and gas sector. 'In the same discussion, Malaysia welcomes the decision to resume Mahan Air flights from Tehran to Kuala Lumpur, which will undoubtedly open more opportunities and avenues for economic ties and people-to-people connections,' he said.
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Anwar receives Aidiladha greetings from Iranian president, reaffirms support for Palestine
KUALA LUMPUR: In the spirit of Aidiladha, which upholds the values of sacrifice and justice, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed appreciation for the steadfastness of Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian in defending the plight of the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. In a phone call with Masoud earlier Thursday (June 5), Anwar said Malaysia stands firmly with Iran in strongly rejecting all forms of occupation and the ongoing expulsion of Gaza's people, who continue to be oppressed by the Zionist Israeli regime. "I also conveyed that Malaysia's foreign policy is not dictated by external powers but is built on national interests and firm convictions. "Malaysia condemns the hypocrisy of certain countries that claim to uphold human rights yet silently allow mass killings without any dignified action. Silence in the face of oppression is a betrayal of universal human values," he said in a Facebook Thursday. Anwar said Masoud also extended Aidiladha greetings for the celebration on Saturday (June 7). Anwar prayed that haj pilgrims from both nations currently in the holy city of Makkah would be granted a blessed haj and contribute to the development of the "Ummah" upon returning to their respective countries. The prime minister also expressed gratitude to Masoud for his noble efforts in facilitating the repatriation of two Malaysian citizens previously detained in Iran. He said during the conversation, he conveyed appreciation to Masoud following the recent visits by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir to Tehran, as part of joint efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation. He noted that the cooperation spans education, technology, food security, trade, investment and the oil and gas sector. "In the same discussion, Malaysia welcomes the decision to resume Mahan Air flights from Tehran to Kuala Lumpur, which will undoubtedly open more opportunities and avenues for economic ties and people-to-people connections," he said. In a separate post, Anwar said he received a phone call from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this afternoon, during which they discussed, among other things, the suffering of the Palestinian people. "We agreed that while the world chooses to remain silent and selective about the plight of Gaza's people, we cannot stand idly by. Malaysia wholeheartedly welcomes and fully supports President Erdogan's stance to utilise all available platforms and capabilities to defend the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people," he said. Anwar said they also discussed Erdogan's recent official visit to Malaysia, which he described as the most successful and meaningful in the nation's diplomatic history, further strengthening the long-standing bilateral ties. He said the visit was not merely a ceremonial exchange but was underpinned by substantive discussions addressing shared interests. "I view the visit as a manifestation of the alignment of values and the clear direction both nations share in upholding justice, sovereignty and the development of the global ummah," he said. Anwar said Malaysia is committed to working closely with Turkiye, particularly in forming a strategic partnership capable of amplifying the voice of the ummah on the global stage. "In the spirit of Aidiladha, embodying sacrifice, resilience and faith in divine guidance, Malaysia will continue to stand with Turkiye in fostering a more peaceful, just and humane world," he said, noting that he also received Aidiladha greetings from Erdogan. - Bernama
