H. Res. 118
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
March 30, 1993.
Whereas on November 23, 1985, terrorists hijacked Egypt
Air flight 648 and diverted it to Malta;
Whereas during the hijacking, 60 people were killed, includ-
ing citizens of 12 countries;
Whereas one of those killed by the terrorists was Scarlett
Rogenkamp of Oceanside, California, who was one of 5
passengers, including 3 United States citizens, who were
shot in the head;
Whereas after investigations, Mohammed Ali Rezaq, a sus-
pected member of the Abu Nidal Organization, was tried
and convicted in Malta on a variety of charges related to
the hijacking, including the willful homicide of Scarlett
Rogenkamp and others, and he was sentenced to a prison
term of 25 years;
Whereas the Government of Malta assured the United States
Government in September 1992 that Rezaq would remain
in prison until 1996;
Whereas the United States Government immediately began
exploring grounds for further prosecution of Rezeq upon
his release in 1996;
Whereas the United States Government learned in February
1993 that the Government of Malta had, without notice
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to the United States and other interested parties, re-
duced Rezaq’s sentence and planned to release him that
month;
Whereas the United States Government and the governments
of other countries whose citizens were killed in the hijack-
ing of Egypt Air flight 648 repeatedly urged the Govern-
ment of Malta to retain Rezaq in custody or make ar-
rangements for him to be tried elsewhere;
Whereas on February 12, 1993, because of concern that
Rezaq could be released, the United States District Court
for the District of Columbia issued an arrest warrant for
Rezaq, and this warrant was provided to the Government
of Malta in the hope that the Government of Malta would
continue to detain him;
Whereas the Government of Malta brushed aside the requests
that had been made by the governments of the United
States and other countries and allowed Rezaq to fly to
another country on short notice; and
Whereas these actions by the Government of Malta under-
mine the efforts to deter international terrorists by let-
ting them go free without serving sentences commensu-
rate with their crimes: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) strongly condemns the release by the Govern-
ment of Malta of convicted terrorist Mohammed Ali
Rezaq;
(2) believes such action seriously undermines the ef-
forts to foster good relations between Malta and the
United States and undermines the international and
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United States efforts to discourage and deter inter-
national terrorism;
(3) urges all governments to cooperate in transfer-
ring Rezaq either to the United States or to another
concerned country in order that he may face additional
criminal charges for his involvement in the Egypt Air hi-
jacking and the murder of innocent civilians;
(4) urges all governments to abide by the rule of
law and not provide safe haven to terrorists in order that
terrorism will be met with the full force of justice and
that terrorists will not escape being held accountable;
and
(5) urges the President to review the United States
relationship with Malta, including foreign assistance and
economic relations.
SEC. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall
transmit a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of State
with a request that the Secretary transmit a copy of this res-
olution to the Government of Malta.
Attest:
Clerk.