The United Kingdom has dropped its terrorism case against a former Guantanamo Bay detainee who traveled to Syria in 2012-2013.
Moazzam Begg spent spent seven months awaiting his day in court to defend himself against seven terrorism charges related to his travels to the war-torn country. Prosecutors said Wednesday that new evidence undermined charges that he was attending terrorism training camps.
“I wanted my day in court, but I was very happy,” Mr. Begg said after being released from Belmarsh Prison, The Associated Press reported.
Ben Emmerson, Mr. Begg’s attorney, told the court that his client was in Syria to train young men to defend themselves from the regime of Bashar Assad, AP reported.
The former Guantanamo Bay detainee, who know advocates on behalf of terrorism suspects, was arrested in Pakistan in 2002 and held by the U.S. government until 2005. He was released without being charged.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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