Friend shocked at Zaoui's state

By CATHERINE MASTERS

Ahmed Zaoui has fled from country to country but nowhere in the world has he been treated worse than in New Zealand, says a friend who has come from Australia to check on the political prisoner's mental health.

Mr Zaoui, an Algerian, has been in solitary confinement in the maximum-security Auckland Prison at Paremoremo for 11 months.

He looks older, thinner and greyer, says Samir Bennegadi, a colleague from Mr Zaoui's political party, the Islamic Front for Salvation (FIS).

Like Mr Zaoui, Mr Bennegadi has a death threat issued by the Algerian Government hanging over him, but has been allowed to live in Australia.

New Zealand authorities gave him permission to visit his friend of more than 16 years at Paremoremo, and he was shocked at the conditions under which Mr Zaoui is being held.

Standing outside the double razor-wire fences surrounding the concrete compound housing New Zealand's most dangerous criminals, Mr Bennegadi spoke of an emotional reunion with Mr Zaoui.

He was allowed to hug his friend, who did not want to let him go, he said.

Mr Zaoui told him of his life in the prison, saying his exercise regime had made him feel like a caged animal. For most of his imprisonment he was allowed to exercise only in the corridor outside his cell.

That regime has been relaxed and he is now allowed to walk in a small yard surrounded by high concrete walls.

"The concrete yard has got walls several metres high," Mr Bennegadi said. "He is there by himself being watched by guards from above - and he doesn't feel like a human being."

There is no greenery and the sun does not reach into the yard.

Mr Zaoui was detained after arriving in New Zealand in December over allegations of connections to a terrorist group, but was cleared after months of investigations by the Refugee Status Appeals Authority.

However, the Government issued a Security Risk Certificate against him on the basis of secret information held by the Secret Intelligence Service.

Prime Minister Helen Clark has indicated he is likely to remain in prison until the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Justice Laurie Greig, finishes his review.

This could be two months away.

Mr Bennegadi said he was certain the secret information had come from propaganda put out by the Algerian Government.

He added that even in Belgium and Switzerland, at the height of bombings and terrorism to which Algerian propaganda linked Mr Zaoui, his conditions were much better than in New Zealand.

Mr Bennegadi said he was very concerned about his friend. "He's never been through such conditions. This is the worst ever."