2 Palestinians in Cruise Hijacking Get Early Releases
Two Palestinians convicted of helping the hijackers of the Achille Lauro cruise ship have been released from prison early and expelled from Italy, their lawyer said Tuesday.
The two are Mohammed Issa Abbas, a cousin of fugitive Palestine Liberation Front leader Mohammed (Abul) Abbas, and Youssuf Sa’ad, the attorney, Gianfranco Pagano, said. He said both men benefitted from an Italian law that allows two-year reductions for eligible convicts at Christmas time, when they were released.
During the October, 1985, hijacking, Leon Klinghoffer, a wheelchair-bound American passenger on the Italian liner, was shot to death and dumped into the Mediterranean Sea.
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