The American ex-wife of a man accused in one of Europe’s most shocking terrorist incidents suspected their marriage may have been a ploy to get an U.S. green card and was not surprised when she was questioned by authorities about their relationship a few weeks ago.
“That was under suspect from the very get-go,” said Heather Winne, 35, of Hassan Naim Diab’s marriage intentions.
A green card, or permanent resident card, gives its bearer official immigration status in the United States.
Diab, 55, was arrested at his Hull, Que., apartment on Nov. 13. He is wanted by French authorities in connection with a terrorist bombing at a Paris synagogue in October 1980 that killed four and injured dozens.
The allegations against Diab came as a shock to Winne, but she was not surprised that someone might want to question her about their relationship.
“The bombing, yes, I was surprised about. It totally took me off guard.”
Winne was questioned for several hours while at work. She would not say who had questioned her.
Winne and Diab met in 1993 when he was an adjunct professor at Syracuse University where she was taking sociology classes, Winne said. They married in 1994 and separated in October 1995, when their daughter was born. The divorce was finalized in 1996.
“When my daughter was born things kind of took a turn for the worst,” she said.
Winne’s daughter, now 13, had been in contact with Diab over the phone and online until about two weeks before “this whole episode” took place, she said.
“Things came out online maybe a week after I was spoken to,” Winne said. “I’ve followed the story very close, so I’m just waiting to hear the outcome.”
Rene Duval, Diab’s lawyer, said the idea that his client may have been motivated to marry Winne for U.S. permanent resident status is unfounded.
“Based on my confidential knowledge of certain information, this is sheer nonsense. This is yet again another way of trying to discredit Mr. Diab,” he said.
“It’s basically a smearing campaign. That’s what it is.”
