Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace
March 12, 2008
BUTNER, NC. --
Dr. Sami Al-Arian was transferred yesterday morning, on the 9th day of his
hunger strike, to a federal medical facility in Butner, North Carolina run by
the Bureau of Prisons. Since beginning his no- water or food hunger strike on
March 3, Dr. Al-Arian has lost 23 pounds and grown weaker. He has not yet been
given an IV. A doctor who examined him on Monday said he is suffering from
starvation and dehydration.
You may write to Dr. Al-Arian at his new address:
Dr. Sami Al-Arian (#40939-018)
FMC BUTNER FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER
P.O. BOX 1600
BUTNER, NC 27509
Also, see press coverage of his transfer and an important article about his
case that ran yesterday in the respected legal publication the Jurist.
I. From: Inmate on hunger strike transferred to medical
prison
Associated Press
Mar. 11, 2008
WARSAW, Va.
A former university professor who has refused for nearly two years to
testify before a grand jury investigating Muslim charities and businesses was
transferred to a medical prison after reaching the eighth day of a hunger
strike.
*****
Prosecutors alleged that al-Arian was a leader of the
Palestinian Islamic Jihad. But his 2005 trial ended in an acquittal on some
counts and a hung jury on others. He eventually pleaded guilty to lesser
charges....
Copyright © 2008, Newport News, Va., Daily Press
PLEASE READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE:
http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-dc--attacks-professor0311mar11,0,4890185.story
II. From: The Torture of Sami Al-Arian
By Peter Erlinder
Mar. 11, 2008
The storm of criticism that followed George Bush's weekend veto of
Congressional limits on the CIA's use of torture might lead to the
conclusion that, reprehensible as 'torture' might be in remote, secret
CIA locations, it could never happen here in the US. But the Bush
administration's abuse of power in its treatment of Dr. Sami al Arian and
other acquitted Palestinian 'terrorism-defendants' has already
demonstrated that 'torture' for this administration is commonplace -
even here.
In December 2005, a Tampa jury acquitted Dr. Al Arian of 'terrorism'
charges. Two years later he is still in prison, and in the 6th day of a
hunger-strike because the Bush administration refuses to honor a May 2006
promise to release and deport him. Unless he receives proper medical care
within days, he risks irreversible renal failure and death - all under the
watchful eyes of the Bush 'Justice' Department.
Apparently, 'legal black holes' like Guantanamo can be created
without having to set-up a special overseas prison, if domestic law can be
sufficiently manipulated. And the Bush administration is very, very good at
manipulation, both legal and otherwise.
PLEASE READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/forumy/2008/03/torture-of-sami-al-arian.php
III. TAKE ACTION
How You Can Help Sami
Al-Arian
Friends of Human Rights joins the Tampa Bay Coalition for
Justice and Peace calling on all supporters of justice to continue and work
toward Dr. Al-Arian's freedom. The Department of Justice must continue to
hear from conscientious Americans not to continue its abuse of the justice
system and punishment of Dr. Al-Arian and his family through a third grand jury
or a criminal contempt charge. Furthermore, Congress must act to investigate
these abuses and ensure that justice is served in this and other cases.
Please write:
Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
(202) 307-6777
Fax askdoj@usdoj.gov
U.S. Department of Justice Office of Professional Responsibility
950 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington, DC 20530
House Judiciary Chair: The Honorable John Conyers, Jr
2426 Rayburn Building Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5126
(202) 225-0072 Fax
john.conyers@mail.house.gov
Senate Judiciary Chair: Senator Patrick Leahy 433
Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-4242
senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov
To contribute to Dr. Al-Arian's legal defense, please send
checks to:
National Liberty Fund
P.O. Box 1211
24525 E. Welches Road
Welches, OR 97067
