Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace

March 5, 2006

I. Al-Arian Retrial Moved to August

A retrial of former college professor Sami Al-Arian on terrorism
conspiracy charges has been postponed until at least August, a judge
ruled Thursday.

One of Al Arian’s lawyers, Linda Moreno, had asked that the second
federal trial be delayed. She cited a pending motion filed by her
and co-counsel William Moffitt asking to withdraw from the case.

U.S. District Judge James S. Moody Jr. also canceled three days of
pretrial hearings scheduled for later this month.

II. St. Petersburg Times, March 3, 2006

Al-Arian’s Christian champion

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/03/03/Northoftampa/Al_Arian_s_Christian_.
shtml

The Rev. Warren Clark is an outspoken supporter of the imprisoned
former USF professor.

By Sheryl Kay

TEMPLE TERRACE – During his seminary days, Pastor Warren Clark
earned the nickname “el hippie.”

An avowed pacifist, he also believed the ministry should promote
nonviolence and social justice. He worked in shanty towns in
Argentina during the time of the “disappearances,” when thousands
vanished at the hands of the military.

When he resumed the pulpit seven years ago, he chose First United
Church of Tampa, whose core missions closely matched his own
convictions – to be open and affirming to individuals of any sexual
orientation, and to actively promote peace with justice.

Today Clark, 58, has taken on a cause that some perceive to be
outside the Christian mainstream: He is an outspoken supporter of
Sami Al-Arian.

Al-Arian is the former University of South Florida professor who was
tried on charges that he supplied money to the Palestinian Islamic
Jihad.

Clark, and several church members, were very visible during the
trial, from attending court proceedings, to holding prayer vigils,
and staging rallies for a fair trial.

The church council also passed a resolution on human rights and
issued a call for a fair trial, which it then submitted to the
prosecuting attorney, the attorney general and the judge.

It is not always an easy position to defend.

Clark’s Christian beliefs hold that violence is permitted only when
a people is on the verge of extinction.

Yet the Palestinian Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for
many suicide bombings in Israel, including a restaurant attack in
Haifa that killed 21 people and wounded 60 more.

“Let me make it clear that I don’t condone any violence,” Clark
said.

“Groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad – these groups have
set up many good social programs and charities for the Palestinian
people. And I do support that.

“But I do not condone or endorse the violent attack on any civilian
or military. That produces a spiral of revenge and violence that is
destructive on both sides.”

What has become, for Clark, a human rights issue rooted in
friendship has offended some in his Temple Terrace church. Clark
says a few have left First United, in part, because of his support
of Al-Arian.

The two men met through a clerical association called Hillsborough
Organization for Progress and Equality, which Al-Arian joined in his
capacity as a Muslim imam. On two separate occasions Clark recalled
conversations with Al-Arian that left Clark with a profound sense of
Al-Arian’s devotion to God.

It was that impression that re-awoke within Clark when he learned of
Al-Arian’s arrest.

Even so, at first Clark said he was leery.

“I didn’t know if he was guilty or innocent, and the government had
come down so hard on him,” Clark said. “So I backed off.”

Over time Clark came to know Al-Arian’s family, and eventually
convinced of the former professor’s innocence, Clark realized he did
need to become more involved.

Recalling a quote from Scriptures, when Jesus said, “I sat in
prison, and you visited me,” Clark decided to become a personal
pastor to Al-Arian.

So for the past year, he has visited with Al-Arian every Tuesday at
the Orient Road Jail in Tampa.

Clark does not believe Al-Arian has received a fair trial.

Still, he points out that Al-Arian was cleared of the “major
charges” against him. In those on which the jury could not agree,
only two out of 10 jurors found him guilty.

“Helloooooo,” Clark said. “He’s been found by a jury of his peers,
after a lengthy trial, to be innocent on all major charges, and hung
on the others because of only two votes. Gosh, I think he should be
a free man.”

Subsequent court hearings have focused on whether the prosecutor
will attempt to retry Al-Arian, so for the meantime, he is still
being held in jail.

So Tuesdays with Sami continue.

And Clark continues to be vocal on the Middle East as well.

Especially after his recent pilgrimage to Israel in February, Clark
came away with a clear feeling that Israel is continually oppressing
the Palestinian people.

“Israel is just as guilty of terror as the Palestinians, but they
are sanctioned because they are a state,” Clark said, “while the
Palestinians have no state.”

Clark believes Hamas’ recent political victory is a positive sign
for peace.

“One thing you can say about Hamas is that they’re honest,” he
said. “Let’s let the process work, and let’s see what good will come
of that. They will not be able to lead and still advocate terrorism
because the majority of the Palestinian people want an end to the
violence.”

As for Al-Arian, Clark said he feels the issue has already grown to
unreasonable proportions. Al-Arian, he said, was just a flash point.
People should refocus their energies on the real problem, which is
securing a lasting peace with justice for the Palestinian people,
and for Israel.

“It’s a much broader issue than just Sami Al-Arian,” Clark
said. “Get off it already. Let’s use our energies for what will help
to bring peace. Sami would say that too.”

– For more information about First United Church, call 813 988-4321.

–END.