Farouk Abdulmutallab wants trial moved out of Michigan

Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab charged with trying to blow up a plane near Detroit in 2009 accused US agents on Friday of failing to read him his Miranda rights and interrogating him while he was sedated and recovering from major burns soon after his arrest.

The Nigerian wants a judge to throw out statements made at University of Michigan hospital. He also asked that his October trial be moved out of Michigan because of the public's "overall hostility" toward him.

Last Friday was the deadline to challenge the government's evidence ahead of the October 4 trial in Detroit. Abdulmutallab insists on acting as his own lawyer, but he's being assisted by standby counsel Anthony Chambers, who signed the latest court filings.

At the hospital after his arrest at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Abdulmutallab was sedated by medical staff but still interrogated by federal agents without waiving any right against self-incrimination, Chambers said.

The medication "literally rendered him incapable of voluntarily submitting a statement. ... The agents could have easily waited four to six hours as the hospital staff advised, but they knew at that moment the defendant was confused and unable to think clearly, therefore they seized the opportunity, violating all constitutional rights that one in the United States of America is afforded," Chambers wrote.

"During the entire interrogation the defendant feared for his life and was scared to even move around on his hospital bed," the attorney said.

US Attorney Barbara McQuade declined to comment and said the government would respond in court. In 1984, in a case from New York state, the US Supreme Court said there are circumstances where an immediate concern for public safety can trump someone's Miranda rights.

Separately, Abdulmutallab wants his trial moved to federal court in another state. He believes the jury pool is poisoned, partly because of widespread news reports of the Christmas incident.

"Many of the residents in the state are enraged that such an alleged incident occurred, not just in their country but in their home state, near their home city, at the airport that they frequent. ... It is without question that there is an inflamed public community atmosphere in Michigan toward defendant Abdulmutallab," Chambers wrote.

Qatar residents celebrate world cup hosting right

Doha erupted in cheers on Thursday when the news spread that FIFA has picked the country as the host of the 2022 World Cup ahead of the United Sates, Australia, South Korea and Japan. The announcement of the vote by Fifa President Sepp Blatter in Zurich was greeted with delight from patriotic and loving supporters of the Qatar bid.

The news was received with great joy as the Qatar 2022 Bid committee staged a fan zone at the Aspire Park, saw residents of the city honking their car horns in wild celebration of the victory.

Crowds watching the live broadcast on a giant television screen at the Aspire Park started arriving from 2pm as families came with their canopy, mats and chair to witness the historic event.

Children’s faces were painted with the Qatar maroon colour and the national flag, T-shirt, trumpet and scarves were freely given to thousands of fans.

As the evening approached the crowd became thicker, and the Vuvuzela took the air as young Qatari’s blew the trumpet with chants of “Qatar, Qatar, Qatar.”
Aardina Richards, a Dutch national said, “I have been in Doha for three months and I am happy for the Qatar victory but sad for the Netherlands & Belgium bid, though back home people weren’t expecting victory because there are lots of issues that needs to be solved than building stadiums and staging a World Cup.”

Shyju V an Indian resident expressed his joy, when he said, “Qatar’s World Cup bid put on a characteristically polished presentation, its successfully assuaged concerns about its heat, telling everyone that Qatar play a significant role in the heart of the Middle East.

With FIFA giving Qatar the hosting right it will definitely be a unifying factor in the region and a plus for global peace.”

By hosting the world cup Qatar will be fulfilling the dreams of every Arab, said Haithem Rashid, a Tunisian resident.

Hosting the biggest soccer fiesta will boosts the economic fortunes of the country and the inhabitants as whole, said Yemi a Nigerian resident.

Sharif Marri, a Qatari resident, said, “I want to thank Fifa President Sepp Blatter for creating the environment that won Qatar this high ranking and historical feat. We all know Qatar in terms of staging world class events and its football followership is well known to all as witnessed in the Brazil versus Argentina match. I think we are on track, and the game has just begun.”

Qatar will be the first country to host the world cup in the Middle East, with the 2018 edition going to Russia ahead of the joint Spain & Portugal bid.