For everyone that doesn't know me, here's a small introduction. I am Belgian and originally Lebanese. I was born and raised in Koïdu Town, Sierra Leone. This is one of the richest diamond mining areas of Sierra Leone. My father was a diamond dealer and I started doing rough diamond business from a very early age. I've always worked within the African continent. I've been coming to Belgium since I was a very young boy and I lived here for over 20 years. I never really lived in Lebanon, in total I spent there only 5 years.
I was married for 7 years to a Belgian woman and had two children with her. A very ugly custody battle turned in to a battle against the world.



It all started by my ex-wife in the battle for visitation right of my 2 children. She told the judge that I was a terrorist and he ordered an investigation. She wants at all costs the full custody of the children but she never knew the consequences of those words. Especially with September 11, it became bigger than she could ever dream of.
Not long after, on November 2nd, 2001 this article was published.
Al-Qaeda cash tied to diamond trade by Douglas Farah, The Washington Post, November 2, 2001(English)
Really, the first time that I read this article, I laughed! I couldn't believe that it was actually me that they were talking about, 90% of this article is not true (Just as if my Ex-wife had a meeting with Farah Douglas). Check and double check is not anymore a part of a journalists vocabulary! They hear a word and make up a story that they call freedom of speech! All what Farah Douglas did was playing words and changing names. There is no following line in the story and he jumps from one thing to another. It never had anything to do with the truth what so ever.


The International Peace Information Service, based in Antwerp under Johan Peleman, analyzed the article and tried to clear up the missing parts.
Antwerp, Blamed again by Christian Dietrich and Peter Dansaert, IPIS & Diamondstudies.com, November 16, 2001(English)
Johan Peleman is also a weapons expert and a representative for the United Nations.


Douglas Farah admit to me personally that he had no proof or bases for his article and promised me that he would make a new and correct article. The new article came but there was no sign of correction. Surprise, surprise!
Digging up Congo's Dirty Gems by Douglas Farah, December 30, 2001(English)
Farah was interrogated by the High Diamond Council (HRD) about what he wrote in the article. He answered again that he doesn't have any foundation to base himself on. Meaning, no proves, no evidence and a sincere (hum) apology to the HRD. But this one we are still waiting for.
Belgian senate Parliamentary research commission, January 11, 2002(French, Dutch)
Belgian senate Parliamentary research commission, June 21, 2002(French, Dutch)
In the session of January 11, 2002 high people in the diamond world were skeptical about my involvement in any terrorist organization. Peter Meeus from the HRD said that in the investigation from the United Nations showed that there is no link found with Al-Qaeda. This investigation sent 5 people to 10 different African countries spread over a period of 18 months. He mentioned that Johan Peleman does not believe that there is a connection between me and Al-Qaeda. If the Belgian court has more information it would come as a surprise for him. This already shows the contradiction to Farah's articles.


The NGO Global Witness also did an investigation and published a report without talking to me first. Conclusion, a lot of air but still nothing concrete, just as the official report (can't be specified for security reasons). Global witness tried hard but not hard enough, again they admit making many mistakes and they promised me a correction but until now, nothing. (Who would have guessed!)
For a few dollars more: How Al-Qaeda moved into the diamond trade by Global Witness, may 2003.(English)


On April 11, 2002 I was arrested and I spent 15 months in prison. I still don't know why. Until today I didn't see any proof or evidence against me. The day they show me what I did wrong I will accept it but never before that. The Belgian court kept me incarcerated under pressure of the United States. This is what the Belgian vice- minister of foreign affairs said in a TV program on RTBF, Au nom de la loi: Les Armes du diamante, June 4, 2003. Suddenly no one knows anymore why they had to arrest me in the first place. But hey, that's ok, the only thing it did to me was that I can't see my children and my name will always be linked with Al-Qaeda.


More than one of my fundamental rights were violated in Belgium, a country that is supposed to be democratic, a country that is supposed to have a good legal system and qualified judges and magistrates. It's a joke! They have the power to do whatever they want or feel like.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, December 10, 1948(English)
I have contacted several people and organizations such as the Human Rights organizations, embassies (I am originally Lebanese with Belgian citizenship). No one could do anything and actually until today I am still waiting to hear from them.
How can I ever prove my innocence if no one wants to listen to me. I can shout as loud as I can, no one will listen. The worst part is that I'm not alone in this struggle. My family is also affected, having the name Ossaily is not so common anymore. The closest people to me were dragged down together with me and there is nothing I can do about it. They tried to break me and maybe they broke everything around me but they will never break my spirit, my character and my person.
They made a very big mistake in choosing me as an example. I will fight for an acquittal!


One of million reasons why I never worked for Al-Qaeda and never will. I am a Shiite Muslim. During the occupation of Afghanistan by the Russians, Osama Bin Laden eliminated and murdered as many Shiites as he possibly could. How could I ever work for someone who killed my people? How can I ever betray my family's religion?
If he ever invested in diamonds to assure his wealth, it had nothing to do with me what so ever!

During the first house search from the Federal Police I was in Lebanon. My father had been suffering from liver cancer for the last year and he passed away in February 2002. My fiancée called to tell me that she had a visit from the police. I had no idea at all what was going on and I left my fathers' funeral to find out. Question: If I really did a crime, would I come back to Belgium? Would I not stay right where I was, in Lebanon?


The most important thing for me is that I can show my children, whom I didn't see for 3,5 years, the truth. That I am not the terrorist and criminal that people made me. They know I was in prison but they don't know I'm innocent. The day I will see my precious children, I will have to explain why all this happened to me and why it caused for them to miss their father. It will not be easy but I have the documents and paperwork to prove that what I say is true.

Take a look at my site to know more and read all the complete articles  http://users.skynet.be/samih.ossaily/ or  http://www.samihossaily.tk