Rapid Response: Tell Attorney General Gonzales - FREE Sami al Arian

In February 2003 a University of South Florida professor, Dr. Sami al Arian, a Palestinian Muslim living in the U.S. for the past 32 years, was arrested on suspicion of terrorism. During his pre-trial detention, Dr. al Arian was denied basic human dignities and civil rights. He was held in unduly harsh conditions which included near solitary confinement, heavy shackling during visits with his attorneys and limits on his visits with his family. Following a protracted trial, a jury of his peers found the government’s evidence insufficient and acquitted Dr. al Arian of all violence-related charges against him. The majority of the jury voted for acquital on all remaining charges, in most cases by a margin of 10-2 in Dr. al Arian's favor.

What followed was a complex effort on the part of the U.S. government to call al Arian to testify before various grand juries in an effort to block his release. Many believe it has more to do with his views on our government's policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian issue than about terrorism. (Read the details here) The U.S. government made a plea agreement with al Arian which was to have led to his release by April of 2007. However, as the release approached Dr. al Arian was called yet again to testify before a different grand jury, causing his prison time be extended again for up to 18 additional months. This is a clear violation of the plea agreement on the part of the U.S. Government. There is nothing to stop the use of additional grand juries to extend his prison time again and again and again. So, on January 22, Dr. al Arian began a hunger strike. He has lost 45 pounds in 43 days and has been moved to a prison medical facility where his health continues to deteriorate. Yet he remains resolute that the injustice must be addressed through whatever means he has left to use.
As Americans as well as people of faith and conscience, we understand there is something fundamentally unfair, and probably illegal, about extending a person's prison time with no end in sight. While we realize this is a complex issue, we are asking that you do two things – and quickly, as Sami al Arian’s health is deteriorating.

1) Please visit the website www. http://www.freesamialarian.com/home.htm to learn more. If you are then convinced that this injustice must stop, then:

2) Please use this page to send a letter to the U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, calling for him to simply honor the plea agreement and release Dr. al Arian, instead of using the grand jury system to extend al Arian’s prison time indefinitely.
We must not allow religious or political discrimination, however disguised, to go unchecked, especially at the highest levels of our justice system. Please take time to understand this issue, and then take action.

Blessings to you,

Vince IsnerFaithfulAmerica.org  For more information on this issue, visit the NCC Interfaith blogsite: http://www.nccinterfaith.blogspot.com/  You may forward letters of support to Dr. al Arian here: http://www.freesamialarian.com/contact.htm   Send a letter to the following decision maker(s): Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Below is the sample letter:Subject: Abuse of Grand Jury/al Arian Plea AgreementDear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],After 10 years of federal investigation and a 6-month trial, a Tampa Florida Jury found Dr. Sami al Arian NOT GUILTY of all violent "terrorism" charges, and a majority of the jurdy voted for acquital on all remaining charges, in most cases by a margin of 10-2.Rather than dropping all charges, the Justice Department threatened to continue Dr. al Arian's solitary confinement, pending re-trial.On May 1, 2006, the Justice Department agreed, on the public record, to release Dr. al Arian immediately, and to assist his voluntary departure from the U.S. without other conditions, in exchange for a guilty plea to a non-violent offense.Despite specific assurances to the contrary by the Magistrate Judge, the Tampa trial judge prevented Dr. al Arian's immediate release and deportation by finding him "guilty" of the same charges rejected by the Jury acquittal. [This rejection of the jury system is being appealed to the Supreme Court.]In November 2006 ! and January 2007, the Justice Department took advantage of the Judge's ruling and changed its position by attempting to force Dr. al Arian to testify before a Grand Jury.On January 22, 2007, Dr. al Arian began a fast to protest the failure of the Justice Department to keep its May 1, 2006 promise, which induced the guilty plea in the first place.The Assistant U.S. Attorney in the E.D. Va responsible for violating the Justice Department promise is on record as stating that he is using his position to prevent the "Islamization of America."Even under the "acquitted conduct" sentence imposed by the Tampa Judge, Dr. al Arian should be released in April 2007, at the latest!Mr. Gonzales, you have the power to live up to your Department's promise and to release Dr. al Arian for voluntary departure from the U.S. with the stroke of your pen. Please tell me what action you will take to bring justice to this matter. I urge you to keep your p! romise and release Dr. al Arian now.Sincerely,