Syria Today | Arrested British nationals suspected of Al-Qaeda links

Arrested British nationals suspected of Al-Qaeda links

Syria has broken its silence about the circumstances surrounding the arrest of two British nationals in Damascus last March, saying they are suspected of belonging to a terrorist organisation related to Al-Qaeda in a statement released by the Syrian embassy in London on May 10.

The statement confirmed that Maryam Kallis, 36, and Yasser Zahur Ahmed, 28, were detained by Syrian authorities on March 17.

“Interrogations indicated that both Ms Kallis and Mr Ahmed are working for a terrorist network related to the Al-Qaeda organisation and the members of the network were also arrested by Syrian authorities,” the statement said. “Ms Kallis is involved in receiving funds from her husband Mr Massoud Ahmad [who resides in the UK] and in conveying the funds to the above-mentioned network. The investigation with the members of the network is still going on.”

An arm of the British intelligence services is also alleged to have been involved in the arrest. The allegations came about after British Labour party peer Lord Ahmed said he had been told by a senior Syrian diplomat in London that a British government agency – but not the Foreign Office – had been involved in the detention of the two British nationals.

The British Foreign Office (FCO) refused to comment on Ahmed’s claims.

Kallis, and Ahmed have both been living in Damascus for a number of years. They were detained on consecutive days in Damascus. The FCO maintains it does not know why.

“There could be no possible suggestion that they have been involved with Al-Qaeda,” Gareth Pierce, the solicitor representing both detainees and their families, told the Guardian.