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American Morning
Moussaoui's Mother Asks For Fair Trial of Son
Aired December 28, 2001 - 08:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now, the latest on Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person charged in the September 11 attacks. The French man faces conspiracy charges in this country, but his mother does not believe Moussaoui can get a fair trial in the U.S.
Aicha El Wafi has flown from Paris to Washington to meet with her son, who will be arraigned next week. She joins us this morning, along with her attorney, Francwar Rue (ph). They are both in Alexandria, Virginia -- thank you all for being with us. And we will be doing this with a translator's help, so bear with us through all of this.
Ms. El Wafi, why do you believe your son cannot receive a fair trial in the U.S.?
AICHA EL WAFI, MASSAOUI'S MOTHER (through translator): I didn't say that he couldn't get a fair trial. I said that I want him to have the opportunity to show the evidence that he has, and vice versa, for the evidence against him to be shown, and then we'll see what the result of that is. Then things can be fair and equitable.
O'BRIEN: I am curious, Ms. El Wafi, if you had any suspicions about your son's activities -- his apparent journey to Afghanistan, his time in Hamburg, ultimately his time in the United States seeking flight training. Did you suspect that he was up to anything?
EL WAFI (through translator): First of all, I want to add some details to a question that I answered earlier. I want to emphasize that my son doesn't speak English. He speaks French. And I would like him to have access to interpreting, so that he can understand what is being -- what he has been accused of, and what he is -- what the proof against him is.
As far as his trips are concerned, I really can't tell you, because I wasn't with him. That's something that will have to be discussed with him later.
O'BRIEN: Ms. El Wafi, does your son hate America?
EL WAFI (through translator): When my son was with me, I cannot say at all that he had anything against the United States. He watched American films. He did a lot of American sports, even American boxing. I could not say at all that he had anything against the United States. O'BRIEN: Ms. El Wafi, how do you feel about this country?
EL WAFI (through translator): Well, I like America. It's a beautiful country. It's a great country. I have a lot of respect for the American people. When the attacks of September 11 occurred, I was stunned. I was standing in front of my television. I was sad. I was crying. I couldn't believe what was happening. I felt the pain of the American people, and I didn't even know that my son would then be involved -- or was involved.
I share the pain and the sorrow of the American people. Like all mothers, as just as I am in pain myself now.
O'BRIEN: Your son shared an apartment with one of the people who flew those planes into the World Trade Center -- Mohammed Atta. It might be safe to say that he knows something about the plot. Do you feel he knows something about the plot?
EL WAFI (through translator): I hope that it's not simply because one shares a room. If I share a room with somebody that that means that I have the same problems that that person does. I hope that that's not the case. I hope that the proof that they have against my son would be something greater than that for them to accuse him of such a crime. I don't think that that's normal that one should assume that by association, if one lives or goes out with somebody, that one is then responsible for the same crimes.
O'BRIEN: Ms. El Wafi, what will you say to your son when you see him?
EL WAFI (through translator): I want to tell him, first of all, that I love him, that he is my son in all circumstances, and that I would really like to know the truth about everything that has happened. I would like there to be an equitable trial. I would like for him to be able to show the proof that he has, and if there is any proof against him, for that to be explained and shown. I would like him to be able to understand what's being said, so that -- and everything should then be translated into French for him in writing and verbally.
O'BRIEN: All right. I guess we can all -- I guess we can all...
EL WAFI (through translator): I want to tell you something.
O'BRIEN: OK. Go ahead.
EL WAFI (through translator): Well, what I wanted to say is that as far as I know, Mohammed Atta, what died on September 11, and that I, as a Muslim myself, as someone who believes with all of my heart -- now, whether I practice every tenant of Islam to the letter, that's a matter between me and my God. But I know as a Muslim that Islam and God never said that one should kill oneself or kill others in the name of God. I am against killing and against death. Islam never said that one should become a kamikaze or one should hurt others. Islam is about love and about respect of others. O'BRIEN: Aicha El Wafi, the mother of Zacarias Moussaoui -- thank you very much for being with us this morning. We appreciate your time.
EL WAFI (through translator): Thank you as well, and I hope that the American government will let me see my son, because I am feeling so much pain for everything that happened, both to you and to me. Thank you.
O'BRIEN: All right -- good day.
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