Aljazeera reporter denied bail
The Spanish national court on Friday rejected a bail application by Aljazeera journalist Taysir Alluni for release on medical grounds.
Alluni, the TV channel’s correspondent in Spain, suffers from a heart condition.
His wife, Fatima al-Zahra, told Aljazeera that she was worried about her husband’s condition.
“They [Spanish authorities] are now risking his life by taking this irresponsible decision,” she said.
“The lawyer appealed for bail under health reasons and we submitted a financial bail but unfortunately the court did not consider our appeals,” she added.
The Spanish court ruled that two medics would be sent to Alluni’s cell to evaluate his condition and determine whether the prison could cope with any medical emergency that he may face, al-Zahra said.
He is one of 41 people – including al-Qaida leader Usama bin Ladin – charged with links to, or membership of, the network and of using visits to Kabul to forge links with al-Qaida.
He was released on bail in October 2003 but was not allowed to leave the country.
Alluni was first arrested on 5 September 2003 in Grenada, where he lives with his family.