09-04-2008, 05:12 PM
Bismillah
MAS Freedom Rejoices in News of Dr. Sami Al-Arian's Release on Bail
Alhamdulelah
WASHINGTON, D.C. (MASNET) Sept. 2, 2008 - MAS Freedom (MASF), the civic and human rights advocacy entity of the Muslim American Society (MAS), rejoices with the family of Dr. Sami Al-Arian on learning that earlier today, as a result of the recently filed Habeas Corpus Petition challenging his continued detention, and the government's subsequent failure to justify their position, Virginia's U.S. Eastern District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema has released Dr. Al-Arian on bail.
"MAS Freedom, and many other organizations and individuals, have been working a long time for this day, and we hope that Dr. Al-Arian's release initiates the vindication process in the tragic miscarriage of justice that has been inflicted on Dr. Al-Arian and his family," stated MAS Freedom Executive Director, Mahdi Bray.
"We are truly grateful to Allah (swt) that Dr. Al-Arian and his family will be reunited in this blessed month of Ramadan," Bray added.
Dr. Al-Arian's original sentence -which the government had willfully extended for over a year beyond the original release date- ended on April 11 of this year, at which point Dr. Al-Arian was transferred to the jurisdiction of ICE for deportation. Shortly thereafter, the US Attorney's office indicted Dr. Al-Arian on two counts of criminal contempt for failing to testify in an unrelated case. Despite the fact that Judge Brinkema had ordered Dr. Al-Arian released on bail July 10, and again reaffirmed this decision on August 8, ICE has brazenly ignored the judge's pronouncement. The motion by Professor Jonathan Turley and attorneys William Olson and P.J. Meitl states:
"Dr. Al-Arian has been held well past the ninety day period allowed under the statue [which allows ICE to hold immigrants up to ninety days while completing deportation procedures]. In fact, as of the date of this filing, Dr. Al-Arian has been held by ICE for 130 days. Dr. Al-Arian has not been removed and continues to languish in detention. Dr. Al-Arian's removal to Egypt is not significantly likely to occur in the reasonably foreseeable future, given the pending criminal charges against him and the pattern of behavior already demonstrated by ICE individuals. The Supreme Court held in Zadvydas and Clark v Martinez 543 US 371 (2005) that ICE's continued detention of someone like Dr. Al-Arian is unlawful. ICE must release Dr. Al-Arian on conditions similar to those imposed by Judge Brinkema until his deportation is reasonably foreseeable."
The motion also stated that, "Continued detention serves no governmental purpose other than those of a punitive nature."
In a prior statement made by a Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace official stated, "A crucial factor in the issuance of Judge Brinkema's original order for bail was the heartfelt and beautifully articulated letters sent in by dozens of friends and acquaintances of the Al-Arian family. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to everyone who took the time to write those letters, and to those of you who have continued to support Dr. Al-Arian and his family in these critical times. Your support DOES make a difference."
After 12 years of surveillance and a lengthy trial in his home town of Tampa, Florida-Dr. Al-Arian has yet to be convicted of a single charge brought against him. "We have been advocating for the release of Dr. Al-Arian throughout his ordeal and will not rest until justice is served," Bray concluded.
To learn more about how you can continue to support Dr. Al-Arian and his family please visit http://www.freesaminow.com.
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MAS Freedom (MASF) is a civic and human rights advocacy entity and sister organization of the Muslim American Society (MAS), the largest Muslim, grassroots, charitable, religious, social, cultural, civic and educational organization in America - with 55 chapters in 35 states. Learn more here - to donate click here.
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