Posted on 03/19/2008 5:50:25 PM PDT by mdittmar
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on American Muslims and other people of conscience to write letters in support of Dr. Sami Al-Arian, a former Florida professor currently on his second hunger strike in federal detention to protest alleged unjust treatment by U.S. authorities.
Al-Arian, who has already lost almost 30 pounds, began refusing food and water on March 3rd to protest a third attempt by prosecutors to compel his testimony in court. He was recently transferred from his Virginia prison to a medical facility in North Carolina.
SEE: Inmate on Hunger Strike Transferred to Medical Prison (AP)
CAIR asked that letters urging Al-Arian's release be sent to Judge Gerald Lee of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, to Attorney General Michael Mukasey and to congressional leaders.
SEE: Free Sami Al-Arian - How to Help
Supporters are also being asked to write letters directly to Al-Arian.
SEE: Free Sami Al-Arian - Contact Info
Al-Arian began his first hunger strike last year after being given a sentence of up to 18 months for refusing to testify before a grand jury in Virginia. His attorneys say an earlier plea agreement freed him from further cooperation with the government. Supporters also say the government's actions amount to a form of harassment.
In December of last year, CAIR welcomed a judge's decision to lift civil contempt charges against Al-Arian. The charges were dropped when the grand jury he was subpoenaed to testify before expired.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes Lifting of Al-Arian Contempt Charges
In 2005, a Florida jury rejected federal charges that Al-Arian operated a cell for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Al-Arian later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was scheduled for release and deportation in April.
SEE: No Guilty Verdicts in Al-Arian Trial (Tampa Tribune)
At the time of his first hunger strike, a national coalition of major American Muslim organizations said the prison sentence given to Al-Arian amounted to unconstitutional "double jeopardy."
SEE: U.S. Muslims Call Al-Arian Imprisonment 'Double Jeopardy'
A recent documentary film, "USA vs. Al-Arian," offers a family portrait that documents the Al-Arian family's desperate attempt to fight terrorism charges leveled by the U.S. government.
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
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WTF? Sami Al-Arian is a bonafide terrorist. However, it is no wonder that CAIR and other Democrats are supporting him.
WTF? Sami Al-Arian is a bonafide terrorist. However, it is no wonder that CAIR and other Democrats are supporting him.
Duck Fan asks CAIR to join FL prof on hunger strike.
Let the A-hole starve.
Don't need em. They haven't changed from what Winston Churchill said about them in 1899.
CAIR should be closed down.
I fully support his hunger strike and I believe he should continue it until his life functions cease.
I am going to support Sami Al Arian by applying food offsets on his behalf.
I will eat double to offset his starvation for the duration of his hunger strike. That should balance out the world order of things.
Did I miss anything?
Congressman Billybob
Tee hee hee....I made a joke.
He’s starving? I’ll send him a nice smoked pork chop in a vacpak!
If he was in his home country, he’d have electrical wires dangling from his testicles and a guy standing behind him with an unsharpened butcher knife. He needs to eat his baloney sandwich and just shut up.
IIRC,Sir Winston basically called them 9th Century knuckledraggers back then.Right on the money,I'd say.
Translated into today’s vernacular,.. yes. That’s a kind translation at best.
XL? He looks as if he is going to take a looong time to starve to death.
Closed down would be a start - but I prefer public beheading. And eye for an eye and a head for .....
No chance.
Sir Winston had it wrong. He assumed that the members of the ROP walked upright, thus his reference to “knuckle draggers”. ;-)
2nd hunger strike? Sami, if at first you don’t succeed, well I have faith that practice makes perfect.
Maybe waterboarding will supply calories..
Lets hope the SOB starves
He can just ESAD for all I care...
Ya know, if he doesn’t eat for a long enough period of time, our issues with this terrorist will be over...
Just sayin’...
CAIR won't even send me another koran to desecrate.
No way would I support 'em on this fool's errand.
But some of you folks that ain't ever requested a free copy of the koran might still be able to get one.
Just go to the CAIR website and ask for one.
Them suckers weigh a ton and cost a fortune to print and mail out.
My three were free.
They won't send me anymore, now.
Wonder why?)
I absolsutely support al-Arian on his humger strike. Let hime continue. No offers of food or forced feedings. Let him hunger-strike his life away.
Force feed him a BLT and send in a dog to lick is face and wounds.
Starve, sucker, starve!!!
I hope this hunger striker circles May 9th on his calendar. On that day I will take him seriously as he will have beaten Bobby Sands...
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