New York, NY, July 26, 1996...Lisa and Ilsa Klinghoffer today expressed satisfaction at the Spanish High Court's decision to extradite to Italy the terrorist primarily responsible for the murder of their father, Leon Klinghoffer, aboard the Achille Lauro cruise ship in 1985.

In 1986, Yousef Magied al-Molqi was convicted by an Italian court and sentenced to 30 years in prison. On February 28 of this year, he failed to return to the Rebibbia prison in Rome after a 12 day furlough. Mr. Molqi had reportedly been allowed out on 4 previous occasions and was considered "a model citizen." He was captured in a Spanish resort town in March.

Lisa and Ilsa Klinghoffer issued the following statement:

We are pleased that Yousef Magied al-Molqi, the man primarily responsible for the heinous murder of our father, will be sent back to Italy to serve out his sentence. We commend the Spanish High Court for its decision. We hope the Italian judicial system has learned from Mr. Molqi's easy escape and will take strict measures to ensure that convicted terrorists remain behind bars.

We again call on the Government of Italy to endeavor to capture Abu Abbus, the mastermind of the Achille Lauro hijacking, who was convicted by an Italian court in absentia and remains at large.

The Leon and Marilyn Klinghoffer Foundation of the Anti-Defamation League works to combat terrorism through educational, political and legal means.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.