Minaret of Freedom Institute Statement
On the Continued Detention of Dr. Sami al-Arian
To: Alberto Gonzales

Attorney General of the United States

Dear Sir:

The efforts to advance democracy and liberty in the Muslim world
confront many challenges, but few are as seriously obstructive as
abuses of power to persecute politically active Muslims innocent of
any wrongdoing, an activity that subjects Western notions of rule of
law to the charge of hypocrisy. The prosecution of Sami Al-Arian has
been Exhibit A, but the outcome of his recent trial gives you an
opportunity to control the damage which your predecessor’s decision
to prosecute the case has wrought.

Since the propaganda campaign against Dr. Al-Arian kicked off by
Stephen Emerson in 1994, and subsequently perpetuated by certain
newspapers and politically motivated actors, no evidence has been
produced that proves his involvement in any illegal activity. Not
only has a jury acquitted him of eight of the seventeen charges
against him, but the jury deadlocked on the remaining charges because
all but two of the jurors wished to acquit him on ALL charges. A
retrial would aggravate a bad situation and further misuse tax money.
Dr. Al-Arian’s continued imprisonment has all the appearance of
harassment.

It was a tragic mistake for the Justice Department to allow itself to
be used against Dr. Al-Arian in this manner, yet you can now minimize
the damage to American credibility by dropping the charges against
Dr. Al-Arian or at least releasing him while making a decision on
what to do next. This opportunity to show that the American system of
justice works in the end must not be passed up. To try Dr. Al-Arian
again or to deport him would paint an unflattering enough picture of
American justice. To incarcerate him under these circumstances
politicizes the American legal process to the embarrassment of our
history and tradition.

Dropping the charges against Dr. Al-Arian and releasing him would
allow you to redirect resources and prosecutorial power to the
incarceration of criminals and real terrorists (whatever religion
they happen to be) who threaten America’s interests, an objective
fully supported by all Americans including the Muslim American
community.

Yours truly,
Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, Ph.D.

President
Minaret of Freedom Institute
Bethesda, MD
www.minaret.org

—END.