KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9: Malaysia’s high court ruled on Wednesday that an American student wanted back home on terrorism charges should be deported to the United States.

The court said Ahmed Ibrahim Bilal, 24, had “no right of appeal” against deportation because his passport had been revoked by the US government and he was therefore considered an illegal immigrant.

Lawyers said they expected him to be deported almost immediately.

“I shall not allow a stay. Once a passport issued has been revoked, once the visa expired, the law empowers the director general of immigration to issue a removal order,” said Judge Augustine Paul.

“Under no circumstances will I order him to be released. I cannot grant any further stay.”

Washington does not have an extradition treaty with Kuala Lumpur, but Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Malaysia was prepared to deport Bilal as his passport had been revoked and he was now considered an illegal immigrant.

One senior public prosecutor said the court decision opens the door for Malaysia to deport Bilal, who is in police custody.

“We can now deport him anytime. Malaysia is not committing any legal offence in doing so,” he said.

Defence counsel Darshan Singh told reporters that he regretted the court verdict and said he would file an application on Thursday to the Court of Appeal to seek to overturn the ruling.

Bilal was named by the US authorities on Friday as one of two wanted men after the arrest of four others in swoops on an alleged terrorist cell in the US states of Oregon and Michigan.

The courtroom was filled with students from the International Islamic University, just north of Kuala Lumpur, where Bilal was studying.

One Muslim student described him as a friendly and pleasant person. “I am surprised he is being accused of being involved in terror activities. Muslims now are targeted everywhere,” he said.

The university, established in 1983, says in its prospectus that it aims to be an international centre for educational excellence.—AFP