Support the release of Dr. Sami Alarian
|
|
Fri, 11 Apr 2008 Friends, I received this notice a few minutes ago. It appears that Dr. Sami Alarian, who is widely regarded as a political prisoner in U.S. custody, may be deported soon. This is good news, as Dr. Alarian, acquitted of numerous "terrorism" charges after 10 years under heel-to-toe FBI surveillance, accepted a plea agreement on a minor charge which was not resolved (hung jury), on the condition that he be deported this month. His family is already settling in overseas. Members of the Tampa Monthly Meeting have personally known Dr. Alarian from his involvement in local grass roots politics, and our Meeting has minuted its concerns for his condtion. We are in unity that his plea agreement should be honored. See http://www.tampafriends.org/witness/20070211-statement.pdf Please distribute this as you are led. Thank you, Steve Kinney For immediate release: Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace Sami Al-Arian Transferred to Immigration Custody 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 release. The government must finally honor its agreement. 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. 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. TAKE ACTION: Given that Dr. Al-Arian has been on a hunger strike since March 3, 2008 we urgently ask all conscientious and justice-seeking individuals to call, email or write officials to ask for an immediate end to Dr. Al-Arian's suffering. TALKING POINTS: 1-The Department of Justice signed an agreement with Dr. Al-Arian in April 2006, in which he was promised release and expedited deportation. 2-The U.S. government must end the Department of Justice's abuse of power by not pursuing any additional action against Dr. Al-Arian in the form of grand jury subpoenas or new criminal charges. 3-Given Dr. Al-Arian's hunger strike, which is on its 40th day, there are serious concerns about his health. He should be allowed to be released and rejoin his family for humanitarian reasons. 4- This case is closely watched all over the world. America's public image would be greatly enhanced, particularly in the Middle East and Muslim world, if the government honored its promise to release Dr. Al-Arian. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Honorable Judge Gerald Lee Attorney General Michael Mukasey BY E-MAIL: E-mails to the Department of Justice, including the Attorney General, may be sent to AskDOJ@usdoj.gov |