American Allegedly Tied to Al Qaeda Asks Asylum
An American citizen charged with conspiring to fight with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan sought asylum after being arrested in Malaysia. The U.S. has charged Ahmed Ibrahim Bilal and five others with belonging to a terrorist cell in Portland, Ore., and trying to join Al Qaeda to battle U.S. troops.
Four of the others were arrested last week, and the sixth is being sought.
A Malaysian judge stayed Bilal’s deportation pending a hearing today on the legality of his arrest, which officials said was for not having a valid passport.
Bilal reportedly has lived in Malaysia since January.
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