[Ppnews] Al-Arian Seeks Release While Awaiting Trial

[Political Prisoner News]

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jul/09/al-arian-seeks-release-while-awaiting-trial-contem/

Al-Arian Seeks Release While Awaiting Trial

By <mailto:esilvestrini at tampatrib.com>ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 9, 2008

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    <http://media.tbo.com/tbo/pdfs/070908alarian.pdf>Read The Motion

TAMPA – Attorneys for Sami Al-Arian are asking a 
federal judge in Virginia to release the former 
University of South Florida professor on bail 
while he awaits trial on charges of criminal contempt.

Al-Arian has completed his federal sentence for 
helping a terrorist group, the Palestinian 
Islamic Jihad, but is still behind bars because 
he refused to testify before a federal grand jury 
investigating Islamic charities in Virginia.

Under the terms of a plea deal in Tampa, Al-Arian 
was to be deported after serving his federal 
prison sentence. Family members, including his 
wife, moved to Egypt, but expect to return to the 
U.S. soon, according to a bail motion filed by Al-Arian's attorneys.

A bail hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday 
in Virginia, according to court records.

Attached to the bail motion are letters from 
Al-Arian supporters urging his release.

"Dozens of people have lined up to offer their 
assistance, including putting up their homes as a 
guarantee for his return to court," said defense 
attorney Jonathan Turley on his blog. "Dr. 
Al-Arian would normally to be an easy case for 
bail, particularly given his willingness to wear 
an electronic bracelet to allow continual 
monitoring. As we argue in these filings, the 
opposition to bail is a continuation of a long 
and abusive campaign by the Justice Department to 
prolong his confinement by any means or method."

According to the filing, if released, Al-Arian 
would stay with his son and would resume his 
writing and speaking on human rights issues.

Al-Arian is willing to post his retirement 
pension, worth more than $340,000, to secure his release, the filing states.






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