St. Petersburg Times
August 27, 2003
Not an issue of guilt
I am writing to thank you for your recent editorial, Deplorable detention, in which you expose the horrible conditions in which Sami Al-Arian is being detained. Even though I know it to be true, it is still unbelievable to me that this could be happening in the United States. Any prisoner, and especially a prisoner who has only been accused but not tried, should be treated humanely and in accordance with our laws. The issue here is not whether he is innocent or guilty, but whether or not he gets a fair trial.

I agree with you that the world is watching this trial, and if the present treatment continues, very few people will believe the outcome. I agree with the importance of a fair trial, but I disagree with two statements you made – that “Sami Al-Arian is a thoroughly unsympathetic character” and that federal authorities have “presented substantial evidence” against him. First, many, many people who actually know Dr. Al-Arian regard him highly. Second, the federal authorities have presented accusations, not evidence. I have noticed lately that our federal authorities do not always tell the truth, and many of these accusations may well prove to be unfounded.
— Melva Underbakke, Temple Terrace