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Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace<br>
April 11, 2008<br><br>
Sami Al-Arian Transferred to Immigration Custody<br><br>
VIRGINIA-- Today, April 11, 2008, was the scheduled release date of Dr.
Sami Al-Arian, according to the U.S. government, but he remains in
prison. Earlier today, Dr. Al-Arian was transferred out of the custody of
the Bureau of Prisons into the custody of immigration authorities. One of
the terms of the plea agreement Dr. Al-Arian signed in April 2006
required the government to facilitate his immediate deportation. The
government must finally honor its agreement.<br><br>
Today also marks the 40th day of Dr. Al-Arian's hunger strike, which he
began on Mar. 3 to protest the government's continued attempts to prolong
his incarceration indefinitely. He has lost 34 pounds and has experienced
dizzy spells and extreme exhaustion in recent days. For the first 18
days, Dr. Al-Arian drank no water. He is determined to continue his
hunger strike until he is allowed to leave the country and rejoin his
wife and children.<br><br>
On the day of Dr. Al-Arian's scheduled release, the Tampa Bay Coalition
for Justice and Peace asks that the U.S. government not take any further
action against him. Dr. Al-Arian and his family have suffered years of
vicious media attacks, government oppression and political prosecution.
It is time to stop wasting taxpayer dollars on prosecuting a man who was
vindicated by a jury two and a half years ago. <br><br>
TAKE ACTION:<br><br>
Given that Dr. Al-Arian has been on a hunger strike since March 3,<br>
2008 we urgently ask all conscientious and justice-seeking
individuals<br>
to call, email or write officials to ask for an immediate end to Dr.<br>
Al-Arian's suffering.<br><br>
TALKING POINTS:<br><br>
1-The Department of Justice signed an agreement with Dr. Al-Arian in<br>
April 2006, in which he was promised release and expedited
deportation.<br><br>
2-The U.S. government must end the Department of Justice's abuse of<br>
power by not pursuing any additional action against Dr. Al-Arian in<br>
the form of grand jury subpoenas or new criminal charges.<br><br>
3-Given Dr. Al-Arian's hunger strike, which is on its 40th day,
there<br>
are serious concerns about his health. He should be allowed to be<br>
released and rejoin his family for humanitarian reasons.<br><br>
4- This case is closely watched all over the world. America's public<br>
image would be greatly enhanced, particularly in the Middle East and<br>
Muslim world, if the government honored its promise to release Dr.<br>
Al-Arian.<br><br>
1. Immigration and Customs Enforcement<br>
Immigration Field Office<br>
Vincent Archibeque<br>
Acting Field Office Director<br>
2675 Prosperity Avenue<br>
Fairfax, VA. 22031<br><br>
Phone: 703-285-6200<br><br>
2- Honorable Judge Gerald Lee<br>
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia<br>
401 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA 22314<br>
Fax: (703) 299-3339<br><br>
3- Attorney General Michael Mukasey<br>
Department of Justice<br>
U.S. Department of Justice<br>
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW<br>
Washington, DC 20530-0001<br>
Fax Number: (202) 307-6777<br><br>
BY E-MAIL:<br>
E-mails to the Department of Justice, including the Attorney
General,<br>
may be sent to AskDOJ@usdoj.gov<br><br>
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