[Ppnews] Sami Al-Arian Denied Relief from Grand Jury

[Political Prisoner News]

Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace
October 22, 2007
tampabaycoalitionforjusticeandpeace.yahoogroups.com

Dr. Al-Arian Denied Relief

Dr. Sami Al-Arian appeared in federal court on Wednesday, October 17
at a hearing scheduled by Judge Gerald Lee to revisit the continuing
civil contempt citation. The judge denied Dr. Al-Arian's motion for
the contempt to be lifted. No reason was given for his decision.
Another hearing was scheduled for mid-December to revisit the
contempt issue.

Dr. Al-Arian's attorney, Jonathan Turley, gave several reasons why
the contempt should be lifted, including that the grand jury subpoena
is a violation of the plea agreement with the government, and that
the contempt holding is not having a coercive effect on Dr. Al-Arian.
Rather it is punishment, which is in violation of the law.

Dr. Al-Arian was held in contempt during a first grand jury last
November. The contempt was lifted after that grand jury expired but
was reinstated after a second grand jury was impaneled in January.

According to prison doctors, Dr. Al-Arian has been in need of a
hernia surgery for several months. The U.S. Marshals, who oversee
such requests, have repeatedly denied him the necessary surgery.



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415 863-9977

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