Mohammed Niaz's mother says he is innocent, not terrorist

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The mother of Mohammad Niaz Abdul Rashid, who was recently arrested in France early this month for his links with Al Qaeda terror group, claimed that her son did not have contacts with terrorists or SIMI.

“My son studied in Tiruchirapalli for three years and then worked in Chennai for a year before going abroad in 2005."

“About a year later, he told me that he had met a woman from France on Internet and was in love with her,” Niaz mum Fathima Begum said.

Although I opposed to the marriage, he went ahead with it. After that, our relationshiop soured,” Fathima Begum said. “I do not have much information about what his activities were or who his friends were since then.”

After a gap of several years, Niaz returned to his mother in January 2011 and spent 15 days with her between January 15 and 30.

“Even during that time, two immigration officers came to our home and asked for his passport. But he asked for their identity proofs and when they did not have it, he declined to hand over his passport. The two men returned without a word,” Ms Begum said.

She said that during the period when Niaz had stayed with the family in Karimedu here till 2005, he was a well-behaved person did not have friends or contacts with a\ny group or organization.

“He was educated in a reputed school here and did a polytechnic course at Mohammed Sathak Insitute in Ramanathapuram district, before joing MIET and completing another course in Tiruchirappalli,” she said.