A former university professor who has refused for nearly two years to
testify before a grand jury investigating Muslim charities and
businesses was transferred to a medical prison after reaching the
eighth day of a hunger strike.

Former University of South Florida professor Sami al-Arian stopped
taking food or water last week to protest a third attempt by
prosecutors to compel his testimony.

Northern Neck Regional Jail supervisor Ted Hull said Al-Arian was
transferred Tuesday from the Warsaw jail to the federal medical
prison in Butner, North Carolina.

Prosecutors alleged that al-Arian was a leader of the Palestinian
Islamic Jihad. But his 2005 trial ended in an acquittal on some
counts and a hung jury on others. He eventually pleaded guilty to
lesser charges.

Since then, prosecutors have sought his testimony for a related
investigation, but al-Arian has refused despite a grant of immunity.

Copyright © 2008, Newport News, Va., Daily Press

II. The Torture of Sami Al-Arian
By Peter Erlinder
Mar. 11, 2008

The storm of criticism that followed George Bush’s weekend veto of
Congressional limits on the CIA’s use of torture might lead to the
conclusion that, reprehensible as “torture” might be in remote,
secret CIA locations, it could never happen here in the US. But the
Bush administration’s abuse of power in its treatment of Dr. Sami al
Arian and other acquitted Palestinian “terrorism-defendants” has
already demonstrated that “torture” for this administration is
commonplace – even here.

In December 2005, a Tampa jury acquitted Dr. Al Arian of “terrorism”
charges. Two years later he is still in prison, and in the 6th day of
a hunger-strike because the Bush administration refuses to honor a
May 2006 promise to release and deport him. Unless he receives proper
medical care within days, he risks irreversible renal failure and
death – all under the watchful eyes of the Bush “Justice” Department.

Apparently, “legal black holes” like Guantanamo can be created
without having to set-up a special overseas prison, if domestic law
can be sufficiently manipulated. And the Bush administration is very,
very good at manipulation, both legal and otherwise.

PLEASE READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE:
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/forumy/2008/03/torture-of-sami-al-arian.php

III. TAKE ACTION

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

U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Professional Responsibility
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530

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