Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace
February 19, 2007

TAMPA–

Today is Day 29 of Dr. Sami Al-Arian’s hunger strike for justice.
Since beginning the water-only, indefinite hunger strike, Dr. Al-Arian
has been hospitalized and has lost over 30 pounds. Please see below
an action alert/press release that was sent today by a national
coalition of American Muslim organizations.

U.S. MUSLIM COALITION CALLS FOR FASTING IN SOLIDARITY WITH DETAINED
FLA. PROF

WASHINGTON, DC – Feb. 18, 2007: The American Muslim Taskforce for
Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), a coalition of major Muslim
organizations, today called for a worldwide “rolling fast” in support
of Dr. Sami Al-Arian. Al-Arian is the former Florida professor who has
been on a hunger strike since January 21 to protest his detention and
treatment by federal authorities.

AMT is asking Muslims and other people of conscience around the world
to fast every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for as long as Al-Arian
continues his hunger strike.

Al-Arian, who has been imprisoned for almost four years, began a
hunger strike after being given an additional sentence of up to 18
months for refusing to testify before a grand jury in Virginia. He and
his attorney say an earlier plea agreement freed him from further
cooperation with the government. Al-Arian’s supporters say the
government’s actions are a form of harassment.

In 2005, a Florida jury rejected federal charges that Al-Arian
operated a cell for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Al-Arian later
pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was scheduled for release and
deportation in April.

AMT is requesting that those participating in the rolling fast e-mail:
civilrightsforall@Sbcglobal.net

The Muslim coalition is urging local communities to host information
sessions at houses of worship and on college campuses to educate the
public about Dr. Al-Arian’s case.

AMT is also asking that letters of support for Dr. Al-Arian be faxed to:

* Honorable Judge Gerald Lee – Fax Number: (703) 299-3339
* Attorney General Alberto Gonzales – Fax Number: (202) 307-6777
* Congressman John Conyers, Jr; – Fax Number: (202) 225-0072
* Senator Patrick Leahy – Fax Number: (202) 224-3479

AMT members and affiliates endorsing this statement include: American
Muslim Alliance (AMA), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR),
Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Islamic Society of North
America (ISNA), Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), Muslim
American Society (MAS), Muslim Student Association-National (MSA-N),
Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), Project Islamic Hope (PIH), and
United Muslims of America (UMA).

CONTACT: Dr. Agha Saeed, Ph: 510-299-9313, Aghaksaeed@yahoo.com