St. Petersburg Times
March 21, 2004
Letters to the Editor
Horrendous treatment

Re: For Some defendants, an American gulag.

I am writing to thank Robyn Blumner for her column describing the conditions under which Sami Al-Arian is being held. Like most Americans, I grew up thinking this sort of horrendous treatment only happens in countries like the former Soviet Union or Iraq – never in the United States, where human rights and due process of law are of utmost importance. But, of course, it does happen here, and more frequently than we think. These stories of gulag-type treatment, in my opinion, belong on the front page, but I am glad at least to see this in the Perspective section.

This was a great column, except for the comment that Al-Arian is “decidedly unsympathetic.” Sami Al-Arian has lived in my community for more than 20 years, and has made many contributions – especially in the area of building bridges between Muslims and Christians. He also started an excellent school, graduates of which have gone on to prestigious universities. He has been a respected and award-winning professor at USF. He has worked tirelessly for civil rights for all Americans. He has a wonderful wife and five wonderful children, the youngest of whom is 10 years old.

Sami Al-Arian has not even been tried, and it appears that certain people are doing everything possible to prevent him from getting a fair trial. To say that he is “unsympathetic” merely because he has been accused of a crime does not make sense to me.
— Melva Underbakke, Temple Terrace

Two kinds of treatment
Re: Fond memories of Guantanamo Bay, by James Astill, and For some defendants, an American gulag, by Robyn Blumner, March 14.

Three young boys, ages 12 to 15, were caught in the sweep-up in Afghanistan following hostilities and sent to Guantanamo Bay. They now say they have fond memories of that experience because the Americans treated them decently, helped to educate them and ultimately released them and sent them home.

I am proud of the Army general who decided to treat these young boys in this way. I am proud of the soldiers who worked with these boys and impressed them with their fairness. To me, this is what America should be doing to everyone.

In sharp contrast was Robyn Blumner’s story about the way Sami Al-Arian is being treated. He has been denied bail and a speedy trial. There are obstacles to meeting with his family and lawyer, problems with reviewing the evidence against him and numerous petty cruelty measures, such as forcing him to balance his paperwork on his back when he goes to meet his lawyer.

I see our treatment of Sami Al-Arian as a black mark against our country. We complain loudly about human rights abuses in other countries, but we tolerate them in our own land.
— Joseph A. Mahon, St. Petersburg