UUA AIW - FREE Dr. Sami al Arian (America, Israel)

[lilithu]

I posted this in the General Forums and got no response, so I'm hoping that UUs will take more interest, partly because we passed an Action of Immediate Witness at General Assembly two years ago, calling for the immediate release of Dr. al Arian. Obviously, he's still wrongfully in jail. So please take action to right this injustice.

This letter below is from FaithfulAmerica.org.

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In February 2003 a University of South Florida professor, Dr. Sami al Arian, a Palestinian Muslim living in the U.S. for the past 32 years, was arrested on suspicion of terrorism. During his pre-trial detention, Dr. al Arian was denied basic human dignities and civil rights. He was held in unduly harsh conditions which included near solitary confinement, heavy shackling during visits with his attorneys and limits on his visits with his family.

Following a protracted trial, a jury of his peers found the government’s evidence insufficient and acquitted Dr. al Arian of all violence-related charges against him. The majority of the jury voted for acquital on all remaining charges, in most cases by a margin of 10-2 in Dr. al Arian's favor. What followed was a complex effort on the part of the U.S. government to call al Arian to testify before various grand juries in an effort to block his release. Many believe it has more to do with his views on our government's policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian issue than about terrorism. (Read the details here)

The U.S. government made a plea agreement with al Arian which was to have led to his release by April of 2007. However, as the release approached Dr. al Arian was called yet again to testify before a different grand jury, causing his prison time be extended again for up to 18 additional months. This is a clear violation of the plea agreement on the part of the U.S. Government. There is nothing to stop the use of additional grand juries to extend his prison time again and again and again. So, on January 22, Dr. al Arian began a hunger strike. He has lost 45 pounds in 43 days and has been moved to a prison medical facility where his health continues to deteriorate. Yet he remains resolute that the injustice must be addressed through whatever means he has left to use.

As Americans as well as people of faith and conscience, we understand there is something fundamentally unfair, and probably illegal, about extending a person's prison time with no end in sight. While we realize this is a complex issue, we are asking that you do two things – and quickly, as Sami al Arian’s health is deteriorating.

1)Please visit the website www.freesamialarian.com/home.htm to learn more. If you are then convinced that this injustice must stop, then:

2)Please use this page to send a letter to the U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, calling for him to simply honor the plea agreement and release Dr. al Arian, instead of using the grand jury system to extend al Arian’s prison time indefinitely.

We must not allow religious or political discrimination, however disguised, to go unchecked, especially at the highest levels of our justice system. Please take time to understand this issue, and then take action.

[jamaesi]

Oh dear G-d. Palestinians never get a break no matter where they live.

I'll be sending a letter shortly.

[BrandonE]

Thanks for pointing this out Kat. I sent an email via the website.

[des]

Your link didn't go anywhere for me. I am suspicious (not of you), but that someone found this page and closed it down?? Or maybe it is a fluke, but I tried it twice.

--des

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by des

Your link didn't go anywhere for me. I am suspicious (not of you), but that someone found this page and closed it down?? Or maybe it is a fluke, but I tried it twice.

--des

I don't know what was wrong. They worked when I tested them earlier today but didn't work when I tested them after your post. But they're fixed now... I think. Thanks for pointing it out.