New Jersey Man Back Home After Detention in Ethiopia

WNYC News | Jul 12, 2010

New York, NY —

A New Jersey family is celebrating the return of a man who was held in Ethiopia for alleged ties to Islamist militants.

It's not clear why 24-year-old Amir Mohamed Meshal was finally released, but he returned to Tinton Falls last night. He was one of dozens held by Ethiopia in what human rights organizations claim is an illegal detention program that violates international laws on deportations and the treatment of prisoners. But Ethiopia says the detentions are part of the fight against terrorism and that it has the right to defend itself.

Meshal was arrested in late January while trying to enter Kenya from Somalia. At the time, hundreds of people -- including Islamist fighters -- were fleeing Somalia.

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