March 6, 2008

WARSAW, VA. –

Today is the fourth day of Dr. Sami Al-Arian’s hunger strike for justice, in which he is abstaining from both food and water. He has grown weaker and has already lost 12 pounds. Dr. Al-Arian’s children, Abdullah and Laila, visited their father yesterday at Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Virgina. During the visit, jail officials emphasized that Dr. Al-Arian’s condition would be closely monitored.

“We are very worried about his health, but we understand why he’s doing this,” said Laila Al-Arian. “The U.S. government, through its vindictive and politically-motivated behavior, has given our family no other option.”

“There’s nothing we want more than to see our father free on the promised release date of April 7th,” said Abdullah Al-Arian. “We’re just upset that it takes such measures on his part to stand up against endless delays and the government’s abuse of power.”

How You Can Help Sami Al-Arian

Friends of Human Rights joins the Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace calling on all supporters of justice to continue and work toward Dr. Al-Arian’s freedom. The Department of Justice must continue to hear from conscientious Americans not to continue its abuse of the justice system and punishment of Dr. Al-Arian and his family through a third grand jury or a criminal contempt charge. Furthermore, Congress must act to investigate these abuses and ensure that justice is served in this and other cases.

Please write:

Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
(202) 307-6777 Fax
askdoj@usdoj.gov

Glenn A. Fine, Inspector General
Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20530-0001

House Judiciary Chair:
The Honorable John Conyers, Jr
2426 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5126
(202) 225-0072 Fax
john.conyers@mail.house.gov

Senate Judiciary Chair:

Senator Patrick Leahy

433 Russell Senate Office Building

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510

(202) 224-4242

senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov

To contribute to Dr. Al-Arian’s legal defense, please send checks to:
National Liberty Fund
P.O. Box 1211
24525 E. Welches Road
Welches, OR 97067