<html>
<body>
<font size=3><br>
Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace<br>
April 16, 2008<br><br>
Dr. Al-Arian Faces Shocking Abuse in New Facility<br><br>
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. <br><br>
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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
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. <br><br>
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. <br><br>
TAKE ACTION:<br><br>
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.<br><br>
<br><br>
</font><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<font size=3 color="#FF0000">Freedom Archives<br>
522 Valencia Street<br>
San Francisco, CA 94110<br><br>
</font><font size=3 color="#008000">415 863-9977<br><br>
</font><font size=3 color="#0000FF">
<a href="http://www.freedomarchives.org/" eudora="autourl">
www.Freedomarchives.org</a></font><font size=3> </font></body>
</html>