[Ppnews] Dr. Al-Arian Faces Shocking Abuse in New Facility

[Political Prisoner News]

Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace
April 16, 2008

Dr. Al-Arian Faces Shocking Abuse in New Facility

Yesterday morning, Dr. Sami Al-Arian was transported by immigration 
agents to the Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Portsmouth, Virginia. 
Since arriving at the facility, he has been subjected to numerous, 
shocking abuses, even worse than those he experienced at a detention 
center in Maryland.

When Dr. Al-Arian arrived at Hampton Roads Jail, he was initially 
placed in the general population and given a standard green uniform. 
Hours later, however, he was placed in segregation unit. Officials 
told him that he was placed on suicide watch because he was not 
eating. Dr. Al-Arian is on the 45th day of a hunger strike to protest 
the government's refusal to honor its agreement and release him.

After placing him on suicide watch, prison guards confiscated all of 
Dr. Al-Arian's belongings. His clothing, including undergarments, 
were taken away, and he was given only a thin hospital gown to wear 
in the cold prison. Although Dr. Al-Arian suffers from weak eyesight, 
his eyeglasses were also taken away. His cell contains no bed sheets, 
blankets or pillows, only a hard metal bed frame beneath a one-inch 
mattress. Furthermore, guards took his drinking cup needed to drink 
water, which is critical during his hunger strike. Further, Dr. 
Al-Arian was also told that he would only be given one telephone call 
every 15 days, and that he would not be allowed any attorney calls. 
Even if he were to be given regular calls, a single call from Hampton 
Roads Regional Jail costs $25.

When Dr. Al-Arian was removed from his cell, he was handcuffed behind 
his back and held by two guards en route to the medical examination. 
There, he was examined briefly, not by a doctor, but by a first-year 
medical student.

Prior to his transfer, Dr. Al-Arian was promised by immigration 
officials that he would not be subjected to more humiliating and 
abusive treatment at the new facility. These horrendous conditions 
reflect a gross negligence on the part of the authorities at the 
Hampton Roads Regional Jail and a deliberate attempt to break Dr. 
Al-Arian's will through this cruel and punitive treatment. By 
subjecting him to these continuous abuses, they have attacked his 
basic dignity and jeopardized his health to an alarming degree.

TAKE ACTION:

All concerned citizens are requested to contact Hampton Roads 
Regional Jail and call for Dr. Al-Arian to be treated humanely, and 
given adequate medical attention. The authorities should be requested 
to uphold their basic protocol regarding detainees, and not subject 
Dr. Al-Arian to any punitive treatment. We know that they take these 
telephone calls very seriously, though they may appear dismissive and 
at times hostile. The number is: 757-488-7500.




Freedom Archives
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415 863-9977

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