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Former Al-Qaeda Member, Bosnian Fighter Seeks Asylum In Serbia

Ali Ahmed Ali Hamad

January 14, 2009

SARAJEVO -- A former Al-Qaeda member and Bosnian mujahedin is seeking asylum in Serbia after being released from jail in Bosnia-Herzegovina, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reports.

Ali Ahmed Ali Hamad, a native of Bahrain, was recently released from a Bosnian prison where he served a 12-year term for robbery and terrorism.

A veteran of the 1992-95 Bosnian war, Ali Hamad has promised to tell Serbian officials about crimes that were committed against Serbs and Croats by mujahedin units in exchange for asylum.

Serbian war crimes unit spokesman Bruno Vekaric says that he is interested in listening to Ali Hamad.

Ali Hamad has told local media that he is a reformed terrorist who is ready to help "fight terrorism." He is waiting in Lukavica, Serbia, for a decision on whether he will be extradited to Bahrain or given asylum.