HAMBURG, 30 March 2004 — A Moroccan cleared by a German court of involvement in the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States has won the first round of a battle to resume his studies, judicial officials said yesterday.
An administrative court in the northern German city of Hamburg ordered the College of Applied Sciences to reconsider a decision to refuse permission for Abdelghani Mzoudi to resume studies in electronics.
A study place is essential for Mzoudi to be allowed to stay in Germany, and he risks expulsion back to Morocco if he fails to obtain one.
Hamburg authorities have already indicated that they want him out. Mzoudi, 31, was cleared in February of more than 3,000 counts of accessory to murder and membership of a terrorist organization over the 2001 attacks.
However, the court specifically refused to rule him innocent, saying it was forced to acquit him because of lack of credible evidence. Mzoudi was already a student in Hamburg when he was charged in 2002.
