DATE=2/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245035
TITLE=EGYPT /  ISLAMIST /  CLARK (L ONLY)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A FORMER U-S ATTORNEY GENERAL, RAMSEY CLARK, HAS LAUNCHED
A MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO FREE AN ISLAMIC MILITANT WHO IS SERVING A 
LIFE PRISON SENTENCE IN THE UNITED STATES.  RICHARD ENGEL IN 
CAIRO REPORTS THE FORMER U-S OFFICIAL IS IN EGYPT WORKING TO GAIN
THE MAN'S RELEASE.

TEXT:  MR. CLARK, A HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND A FORMER U-S 
ATTORNEY GENERAL, TELLS V-O-A THAT THE MAN CONVICTED OF BOMBING 
THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IN NEW YORK, SHEIKH OMAR ABDEL RAHMAN, IS 
A VICTIM OF A WESTERN BIAS AGAINST ISLAM. 

MR CLARK SAYS HE IS ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT
EVIDENCE LINKING ABDEL RAHMAN TO ACTS OF TERRORISM.  THE FORMER 
U-S GOVERNMENT CABINET OFFICER IS IN EGYPT TO WORK WITH ABDEL 
RAHMAN'S LAWYERS ON AN APPEAL OF THE CONVICTION.

MR. CLARK SAYS ABDEL RAHMAN WAS CONVICTED TO SHOW THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE THAT EVEN A SICK, BLIND MUSLIM PREACHER CAN BE A 
TERRORIST.

                       ///  CLARK ACT  ///

         I THINK THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE PEACE ON EARTH, WE 
         HAVE TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND ISLAM.  IT IS A POWERFUL FORCE
         ON EARTH.  IT IS THE MAJOR FACT IN THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS
         OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.  AND IF WE TRY TO DEMONIZE THE 
         WHOLE CULTURE OF ISLAM, IT WILL MEAN TRAGIC CONFLICT FOR
         MANY, MANY YEARS.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. CLARK SAID THERE COULD BE DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES SHOULD ABDEL
RAHMAN DIE IN THE U-S PRISON WHERE HE IS SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE.

MR. CLARK IS THE ONLY LAWYER ALLOWED TO VISIT ABDEL RAHMAN.  HE 
SAYS THE EGYPTIAN CLERIC IS IN POOR HEALTH AND HAS LOST ABOUT 25 
PERCENT OF HIS BODY WEIGHT IN PRISON.  HE SAYS THAT ABDEL RAHMAN,
WHO IS DIABETIC, IS KEPT IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.

OMAR ABDEL RAHMAN IS THE SPIRITUAL GUIDE OF EGYPT'S LARGEST 
ISLAMIC MILITANT GROUP, AL GAMAA ISLAMIYA.

THE 60-YEAR OLD CLERIC IS RESPECTED BY MOST OF THE WORLD'S 
LEADING ISLAMIC MILITANTS, INCLUDING THE U-S GOVERNMENT'S MOST 
WANTED MAN, OSAMA BIN LADEN.  ABDEL RAHMAN WAS MR. BIN LADDEN'S 
SPIRITUAL LEADER WHEN HE LED ISLAMIC MUJAHIDEEN FIGHTERS IN 
AFGHANISTAN.

ABDEL RAHMAN HAS BEEN ACQUITTED TWICE IN EGYPT OF CHARGES OF 
TERRORISM.  IN 1990, HE TRAVELED TO THE UNITED STATES THROUGH 
SUDAN.

HE IS SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE AFTER BEING CONVICTED BY A COURT IN
NEW YORK CITY OF PLOTTING TO KILL THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BY BOMBING 
THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IN 1993 AND OTHER SITES, INCLUDING BRIDGES
AND TUNNELS.  (SIGNED)

NEB/RHE/JWH

03-Feb-99 7:11 AM EST (1211 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.