Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace
Oct. 29, 2003

TAMPA-

The Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace is pleased to announce
that prominent Washington D.C. attorney William B. Moffitt and Linda
Moreno of Tampa entered notices of appearance at the Federal District
Court in Tampa, Florida today. Consequently, Dr. Sami Al-Arian, who
has been unjustly detained since Feb. 20, 2003 and placed in
atrocious conditions, will no longer be representing himself, though
he will be involved in preparing his defense.

A partner in the firm of Asbill, Moffitt & Boss, Bill Moffitt is a
past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense
Lawyers, and has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in
America publication on numerous occasions. Moffitt has also been
featured as a legal expert on a number of networks and programs
including CNN’s Crossfire, Court TV, ABC News, CBS News, ITN British
Television, and Hardball.

Linda Moreno has been a criminal defense attorney for the past 23
years. A member of both the Florida and California State Bars, she
has represented numerous clients accused of everything from
misdemeanors to capital murder.

“We are honored that these capable lawyers will lead our pursuit of
justice in the courtroom and hopefully end this painful ordeal of
ours,” Dr. Sami Al-Arian’s wife Nahla said Wednesday. “Sami has been
suffering tremendously for the past 8 months in torturous
conditions,” she continued. “I hope that he will be moved to Tampa
where he can examine evidence and that he will be given full access
to his attorneys.”

A press conference with Bill Moffitt and Linda Moreno will be held on
Friday, Oct. 31 at 1:30 pm at Attorney Bob McKee’s office on 1718 E.
7th Ave (3rd floor).

We call on Judge McCoun to alleviate Dr. Sami Al-Arian’s suffering
and remove him from the psychologically torturous conditions of
Coleman Federal Penitentiary. So long as Dr. Al-Arian is isolated and
placed under severe restrictions inappropriate for a pre-trial
detainee, he will not receive a fair trial.

We call on our supporters to please continue donating to Dr. Sami Al-
Arian’s legal defense fund. The legal bills are piling up, and we
need your help more than ever to ensure justice and freedom for Dr.
Al-Arian. Please make checks payable to “National Liberty Fund,” and
mail them to P.O. Box 3568, Washington, D.C. 20007.