FATHER OF FAROUK ABDULMUTALLAB BEGS U.S FOR PARDON
Umar Abdulmutallab, the father of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, popularly known as ‘Underwear Bomber’, has urged the Nigerian government and the government of the United States to forgive his son for the 2009 terrorism charges.
Abdulmutallab, who was 23 at the time of his arrest, was convicted of attempting to detonate plastic explosives hidden in his underwear while on board Northwest Airlines Flight 253, en route from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan, on Christmas Day, 2009.
On February 16, 2012, he was sentenced to life terms plus 50 years without parole in the United States.
Almost 9 years after his arrest, his father is now calling on the government to pardon his son.
Anaedoonline reports that Abdulmutallab’s father, represented by the chief executive officer of Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation, Imam Shuaib Abdullahi, made the appeal at an event where he was honoured with People’s Friendly Personality Award in Lagos by the Human Rights Monitor Agenda (HURMA). Abdullahi, who spoke on his behalf, said: “Each time I discussed with him, he tells me that Imam, ‘I have done my own as a Nigerian, I have been able to save the lives of over 270 people because if that bomb had exploded, we are talking of about 279 lives that would have been lost. He said he was fulfilled that he was able to save those lives.
“At the same time, it is also a pain for him for one’s son to be incarcerated, given three life sentences concurrently. He said he wouldn’t know if it would be possible in his life time for him to see his son but if it is the wish of God that the son is not released and he lives this world, so be it.
“But deep down in him, he wants to see a situation where perhaps the powers that be can revisit the issue especially now that the son is very remorseful because almost going to 12 years or so, the son is kept in a solitary confinement where he doesn’t interact with any human being even to the point that if he is to be given food, it is through an automatic system that would provide the food.
“For a son who cannot even say whether it is morning, afternoon or night, you can really imagine the trauma it is going to be for the father.”
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