Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace
Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2003

Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace

Contact: Attorney Nicholas Matassini (813) 879-6227

Press Release

February 26, 2003

Tampa- On Thursday morning, February 20, 2003, Dr. Sami Al-Arian, Sameeh Hammoudeh and Hatim Fariz were arrested in their homes by FBI officials. The arrests are yet another indication that, under the guise of fighting terrorism, the Bush administration, led by Attorney General John Ashcroft, is silencing political speech and _expression that is protected under the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights.

The government’s trumped-up charges against Dr. Al-Arian, who has vehemently denied any involvement in terrorism, are completely predicated on circumstantial evidence and guilt by association. In fact, much of the so-called evidence in the indictment was discredited by Immigration Judge R. Kevin McHugh during Dr. Mazen Al-Najjar’s immigration hearing in October 2000. In his 56-page ruling, Judge McHugh concluded, “Although there were allegations that the ICP and WISE were fronts for Palestinian political causes, there is no evidence before the Court that demonstrates that either organization was a front for the PIJ. To the contrary, there is evidence in the record to support the conclusion that WISE was a reputable and scholarly research center and the ICP was highly regarded.”

Given Dr. Al-Arian’s past vindication, last Thursday’s arrests and the government’s use of unconstitutional provisions in the un-American Patriot Act only serve to silence and intimidate the American Muslim community.

Mahdi Bray of the Muslim American Society-Freedom Forum said, “The arrest of Professor Sami Al-Arian today conforms to a pattern of political intimidation by an Attorney General who seems to be targeting the American Muslim community’s leaders and institutions in a drive to erode Americans’ civil liberties.”

Mr. Bray referred to Dr. Al-Arian as “an outspoken defender of American Constitutional freedoms and civil liberties.”

Altaf Hussein, president of the Muslim Students Association of the U.S. and Canada, expressed similar sentiments, “We know Dr. Al-Arian only for his impeccable record as a well-published computer engineering professor, his impressive record of service to both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities, and ultimately, his tireless efforts to mobilize people to stand up for justice, here in the U.S. in protection of civil liberties and in support of peaceful measures to bring an end to the occupation of Palestine.”

Dr. Al-Arian’s attorney, Nicholas Matassini, said after a preliminary court hearing, “He’s a political prisoner right now as we speak.” The attorney also denounced the indictment as “a work of fiction.”

In a statement released on February 25, Dr. Al-Arian wrote, “I’m crucified today because of who I am, a stateless Palestinian, an Arab and Muslim, an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights. I’m a prisoner because of the hysteria engulfing this country in the aftermath of the 9-11 tragedy, and because there are very powerful political groups which are thirsty for my blood. I’m not the enemy, but the forces of exclusion and intolerance are.”

Dr. Al-Arian, Mr. Hammoudeh and Mr. Fariz are entitled to the presumption of innocence, the right to a fair trial, and the right to hold political views different from the government’s. We call on all justice-seeking individuals to demand that unconstitutional aspects of the Patriot Act that blatantly contravene the Bill of Rights not be allowed in any court of law.

We ask the media to please respect the privacy of the families of Dr. Sami Al-Arian, Sameeh Hammoudeh and Hatim Fariz during this difficult time.

End.