Alleged Spy Challenges Court: Send Me to the Gallows if You Find Any Proof
A man detained for allegedly spying for Israel has withdrawn his testimony and denied that he planted tapping equipment at Hizbullah”s general secretariat building, pan-Arab daily al-Hayat said Friday.
The military court began trying Faysal Ghazi Mqalled on Thursday and when the judge asked him why he has confessed to taking part in acts that carry the death penalty and then retracted his testimony, the man said: "Fear is the reason and if there is any proof against me then I ask for the death penalty because my religion prevents me from cooperating with the Israeli intelligence."
Mqalled is accused of providing Israel with information on Hizbullah bases, bringing in agents and forging passports and IDs.
Al-Hayat said the man admitted to cooperating with Italian and German intelligence and carrying out four operations in their favor by monitoring the activities of members belonging to extremist groups in Europe.
However, Mqalled said the information that he gave during investigation was taken from the confessions of another alleged spy Mahmoud Rafeh which were printed in newspapers.
He said among his duties were to monitor Hizbullah members in Italy. But it was proved that they were only party supporters and not officials.
Asked about his ties with an Israeli officer, he denied such a relation and said he never visited Israel nor worked for the Mossad.