Washington Report, March 2006, page 64

Muslim-American Activism

Muslim Leaders Speak Out About Sami Al-Arian

Some of the nation’s most prominent Muslim leaders visited Tampa, FL Jan. 6 to speak to reporters at the federal courthouse (where a meeting was going on to discuss Prof. Sami Al-Arian’s case) and express their concern over Al-Arian’s treatment and rally for a quick resolution. Mahdi Bray, executive director of the Washington, DC-based Muslim American Society’s Freedom Foundation, said the “demonizing and criminalization” of Muslims has united organizations.

Arrested in February 2003, Prof. Al-Arian received support from U.S. Muslim organizations, as well as academics and activists of every religion concerned about civil rights. On Dec. 6, Al-Arian was acquitted of eight terrorism-related charges, including conspiracy to murder or maim people abroad. The jury deadlocked on nine other charges, with all but two jurors wanting to acquit him of all charges. The government is discussing its next move and whether to retry Al-Arian

Ahmed Younis, national director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, who spoke at the rally and news conference, said his organization does not get involved in pending cases but is interested in policy and broader issues.

“That’s been our stance,” Younis told reporters. “We don’t defend individuals and get into the nitty-gritty. Here, the government presented its case, and there was an acquittal by a jury of his peers. This is more of a seminal case about the PATRIOT Act and diplomacy issues.”

Nihad Awad, founder of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the jury’s verdict should be a clear statement to the government and that it is time to release Al-Arian. “The government should just let it go,” Awad said. “We all waited to see what would happen. He was innocent until proven guilty. The verdicts were made, and there is no reason to hold him.”

—Delinda C. Hanley

< Prev		Next >