<html>
<body>
<font size=3><br>
Reply-To:
tampabaycoalitionforjusticeandpeace-owner@yahoogroups.com<br><br>
<br>
Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace<br>
March 26, 2007<br><br>
TAMPA -- Last Friday, dozens of supporters gathered in Butner, North
<br>
Carolina in solidarity with Dr. Sami Al-Arian. Below, please see two
<br>
news reports about the event and a press release from one of the <br>
organizers, Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation.<br>
===<br><br>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
Protest at Prison Draws Crowd of Supporters for Dr. Sami Al-Arian
<br><br>
WASHINGTON, DC - Mar. 24, 2007 (MASNET) A resolute crowd of 100 <br>
people assembled in Butner, North Carolina to show support for Dr. <br>
Sami Arian despite the denial of his appeal that would have set him <br>
free in a matter of days. This continued cancellation of justice did
<br>
not interrupt local support that has been preceded by national and <br>
international support for the former tenured University of South <br>
Florida computer science professor. Supporters came from as far away
<br>
as Tampa to participate in this occasion. The morning event was <br>
covered by the Raleigh News and Observer, AP; Durham Herald Sun, the
<br>
UNC Daily Tarheel and the NC State University Technician. Statements
<br>
of appreciation were offered by Nahla Al-Arian, wife of the
doctor.<br><br>
Once billed as a major strike in the war on terrorism, the case <br>
against Dr. Sami Al-Arian seemed to crumble when jurors rejected <br>
federal charges that Dr. Al-Arian and three co-defendants operated a
<br>
North American cell for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The <br>
government moved swiftly to combat the decision of the jury by <br>
compromising the plea agreement originally promised. <br><br>
The case continues to galvanized supporters who recognize that Dr
Al-<br>
Arian is a victim of an overzealous U.S. Justice Department and of <br>
anti-Muslim prejudice stemming from the Sept. 11 attacks.<br><br>
Growing concern arose after Dr. Al-Arian began and continued a <br>
hunger strike of 60 days which was not modified until yesterday, <br>
prior to learning that his appeal had been denied. It is unknown <br>
whether Dr. Al-Arian will resume his fast for justice.<br><br>
Khalilah Sabra, Director of the North Carolina chapter of the Muslim
<br>
American Society (MAS) Freedom Foundation, reminded those in <br>
attendance at the gathering that on February 5th, 2003 Dr. Al-Arian <br>
wrote a statement which said," I am crucified today because of who I
<br>
am: a stateless Palestinian, an Arab, a Muslim and an outspoken <br>
advocate for Palestinian rights, but more a persistent defender for <br>
civil and constitutional rights on the home front." She concluded to
<br>
mention that she was saddened and disappointed that after so many <br>
years Dr. Al-Arian's situation remains the same.<br><br>
###<br><br>
The Herald-Sun, Durham, NC<br>
March 24, 2007 <br><br>
Protest held over jailed professor<br>
<a href="http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-832748.cfm" eudora="autourl">
http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-832748.cfm<br><br>
</a>BUTNER -- An estimated 70 people gathered Saturday near the federal
<br>
prison in Butner to demonstrate for the release of former university
<br>
professor Sami al-Arian, who admitted in a plea bargain last year <br>
that he conspired to aid individuals associated with Palestinian <br>
Islamic Jihad. <br>
The demonstrators received good news and bad news. <br><br>
First, they were told the 49-year-old al-Arian had just ended a <br>
hunger strike as it entered its third month, severely threatening <br>
his life. He reportedly began taking liquid nutrition on Friday at <br>
the urging of his wife. <br><br>
Then came the bad news: the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in <br>
Richmond, Va., apparently declined Friday to overturn a decision <br>
that al-Arian must be held in contempt for refusing to testify <br>
against other alleged terrorists. The contempt citation could add 18
<br>
months to his prison term, keeping him locked up well beyond his <br>
projected release date next month. <br><br>
Al-Arian taught computer science at the University of South Florida <br>
in Tampa until he was charged with being a leader of Palestinian <br>
Islamic Jihad, which the United States calls a terrorist <br>
organization. <br><br>
He had a six-month trial in 2005 that ended with acquittal on some <br>
counts and a hung jury on others. <br><br>
Then, he admitted in an April 2006 plea bargain that he conspired to
<br>
help people connected to the alleged Palestinian terrorist group. He
<br>
received a prison sentence of nearly five years, with credit for <br>
time already served. <br><br>
His supporters contend the plea deal exempted al-Arian from <br>
testifying against others. <br><br>
So why is the government now holding him in contempt for not <br>
testifying, they asked Saturday. <br><br>
According to the supporters and demonstrators, al-Arian also was <br>
promised in his plea that he would be deported from the U.S. <br><br>
"I think the government reneged on him," said Khalila Sabra,
<br>
director of the N.C. Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation.
<br><br>
"He was appalled that his plea bargain would be violated," she
<br>
added. "That's why he decided to go on a fast. He feels that a life
<br>
without freedom is not life." <br><br>
Al-Arian, who is of Palestinian descent, came to the United States <br>
in 1975 and lived with his wife Nahla and five American-born <br>
children until his arrest. <br><br>
Sabra said al-Arian had become "skin and bones" during his
60-day <br>
hunger strike. <br><br>
"If his wife had not literally begged him to stop fasting, he would
<br>
have taken it to the death," she said. "He's already witnessed
the <br>
death of his career. Financially, he's ruined. The decent thing is <br>
just to release him [from prison] and let him leave the country."
<br><br>
Sabra said she supported the Constitution and believed in it. <br><br>
"But when the rules of law are violated, I think people have to
<br>
stand up and challenge it," she said. "What's being done to Dr.
al-<br>
Arian is not democracy." <br><br>
Margaret Misch, a facilitator for the Orange County Bill of Rights <br>
Defense Committee, agreed with that assessment. <br><br>
She said she participated in Saturday's demonstration because it <br>
was "a human rights issue." <br><br>
"This person has been tortured," Misch said of al-Arian.
<br><br>
"He's already given up his citizenship," she <br>
contended. "Everything's gone for him now. The decent thing is to
<br>
let him go." <br><br>
Misch said she would consider Saturday's event a success if it led <br>
to a quick release from prison and deportation for al-Arian. <br><br>
"But that's probably not possible," she said. "So the next
best <br>
thing is to let people know how the United States government is <br>
infringing on people's rights. To me, that's scary." <br><br>
===<br>
The News & Observer<br>
Mar 25, 2007 <br><br>
Vigil staged for Palestinian scholar<br>
<a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/557334.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/557334.html</a> <br><br>
BUTNER - About 60 people held a two-hour vigil beside Interstate 85 <br>
on Saturday for an imprisoned former college professor accused of <br>
conspiring with Palestinian terrorists.<br>
Sami al-Arian is being held at the Federal Medical Facility near <br>
Butner for refusing to testify in a terrorism-related case before a <br>
Virginia grand jury. On Jan. 22, he began a hunger strike to protest
<br>
his incarceration beyond the duration of his sentence.<br><br>
After he collapsed Feb. 13, the Federal Bureau of Prisons <br>
transferred al-Arian to Butner from a prison in Virginia.<br><br>
Al-Arian's wife, Nahla al-Arian, said her diabetic husband ended the
<br>
hunger strike Friday, at his family's urging, and tried taking <br>
liquid nutrients. In his weakened condition, he was having <br>
difficulty digesting them, she said.<br><br>
"The most important thing is [that] his psychological state is <br>
healthy and fine," she said.<br><br>
Khalila Sabra, director of the N.C. Muslim American Society Freedom <br>
Foundation, said, "He's experiencing a living death. ... Until he's
<br>
free, none of us are really free."<br><br>
The Muslim foundation helped organize Saturday's demonstration, <br>
along with the Durham and Orange county chapters of the Bill of <br>
Rights Defense Committee, N.C. Stop Torture Now and al-Arian's <br>
family.<br><br>
Two of al-Arian's five children also took part in the protest, along
<br>
with four other supporters from their hometown of Tampa, Fla.<br><br>
Born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents, al-Arian, 49, grew up in <br>
Cairo, came to the United States as a student in 1975 and earned <br>
master's and doctorate degrees at N.C. State University in the <br>
1980s. In 1986, he joined the faculty at the University of South <br>
Florida as a computer-science professor.<br><br>
In February 2003, he was arrested in Tampa and charged with aiding <br>
Palestinian terrorists. At that time, the university fired him.<br><br>
In December 2005, a jury acquitted al-Arian of eight charges and <br>
deadlocked on nine others. In May, he signed an agreement in which <br>
he pleaded guilty to aiding the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which the
<br>
U.S. government regards as a terrorist organization. The agreement <br>
also said that al-Arian would be deported after serving an 18-month <br>
prison sentence.<br><br>
With time already served, al-Arian's sentence is up in April. But it
<br>
has been extended indefinitely on a charge of civil contempt after <br>
he refused to testify in an investigation of Islamic charities in <br>
northern Virginia.<br><br>
"Al-Arian is in limbo," said Jerry Markatos, a demonstrator
from <br>
Chatham County. "This is a notorious case
internationally."<br><br>
Others said their protest was about more than al-Arian. <br><br>
Sabra said al-Arian is not a criminal, but "part of a political
<br>
agenda" of a U.S. government "intolerant of the rights of
Muslims, <br>
intolerant of the reasonable rejection of their Israeli
agenda."<br><br>
Demonstrators, some in prison-style orange jumpsuits, stood along a <br>
road facing I-85 at exit 189. They brought a tall "Leaning Lady
<br>
Liberty" figure proclaiming "Bush Free Dr. Sami," along
with signs <br>
calling for al-Arian's release and for support of Palestinians.<br><br>
Passing motorists occasionally blew their horns, but it was <br>
impossible to tell whether in support or mockery. The morning's only
<br>
incident was the arrival of several Highway Patrolmen warning <br>
protesters to stay behind the fence, after several climbed into the <br>
I-85 right-of-way to photograph the demonstration.<br><br>
Organizer Margaret Misch of the Orange County Bill of Rights Defense
<br>
group said the main goal was to gain attention for al-Arian's
case.<br><br>
"It's of concern the media doesn't pick up this cross," Misch
<br>
said. "This is, to me, not just Sami, it's the concern we have for
<br>
rights."<br><br>
Protester Roger Ehrlich of Cary said his grandfather was a prominent
<br>
Zionist in Austria who protested anti-Semitic policies after the <br>
Nazi occupation. The grandfather, Jacob, was arrested and died in <br>
the Dachau concentration camp, Ehrlich said.<br><br>
"I see real parallels here," he said.<br><br>
Nahla al-Arian said the event was heartening.<br><br>
"It gives me hope the situation will change, injustice will
end," <br>
she said. "I see in this place the conscience of America."
<br>
</font><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<font size=3 color="#FF0000">The Freedom Archives<br>
522 Valencia Street<br>
San Francisco, CA 94110<br>
(415) 863-9977<br>
</font><font size=3>
<a href="http://www.freedomarchives.org/" eudora="autourl">
www.freedomarchives.org</a></font></body>
</html>