(Nov. 26, 2001)--Supporters Want Freedom For Al-Najjar-- Al-Arian would not comment Sunday, saying he and other members of the Islamic Community of Tampa Bay were upset with press coverage, most recently a Tampa Tribune article about Muslim students. Al-Arian said his wife, Nahla, had arranged for the students to be interviewed by a reporter about harassment they have endured after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Al-Arian said the interviews did not focus on the students' political views, but the story emphasized them. ``They were presented, and later in a page of Sunday letters, vilified as disloyal Americans,'' Al-Arian said. He said the Tribune ``always treats us as suspects.''
(Nov. 15, 2001)--Bay Area Students' Words Echo Mideast Suspicions-- Some Middle East experts say while Americans may find the students' views surprising, they should be considered in context. ``Unfortunately, the concept of conspiracy with a capital `C' runs rampant among some in the Middle East,'' said Eric Hanne, who teaches Middle East history at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. ``This is an example. ``Some people in America may be upset hearing these ideas, but they need to listen.''