Greek Muslim Cleric Hate
Greece mulls cleric’s future
Greece sought reassurance yesterday from Pakistan about the safety of a Muslim cleric who was arrested in Athens but is wanted on murder charges in his home country, where he could face the death penalty.
The Shi‘ite cleric was arrested at Athens International Airport on Saturday but judges have yet to decide whether to extradite the suspect. According to The Associated Press, he has been identified by Pakistani authorities as Sayed Mohammed Sibtain Kazmi.
Kazmi is wanted in Pakistan in connection with the shooting of a prominent Sunni lawmaker in 2003.
Sources told Kathimerini that intelligence agents have been checking on the suspect’s background and contacts in Greece. They have exchanged information with authorities in Britain, where the cleric was investigated in connection with last year’s London bombings. Kazmi says he came to Greece to preach to Muslims.