Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace
July 10, 2003

Tampa–

The family of Dr. Sami Al-Arian is pleased to announce that he has stopped his hunger strike as of yesterday afternoon. Dr. Al-Arian, a prisoner of conscience since February 20, has been denied bail and placed in a maximum-security federal penitentiary. His case has been an extremely politicized one, orchestrated by the Attorney General of the United States in an apparent charade to bail out the University of South Florida in its long and unjust persecution of Dr. Al-Arian.

Dr. Al-Arian has been on a liquid-only hunger strike, during which he lost 45 pounds, to protest his unjust persecution and the harsh conditions of his confinement. Family members, including his elderly mother, wife and five children have been pleading with him to stop his hunger strike. Acknowledging that his self-representation requires his full physical and mental capacity and hoping that he will soon secure counsel of his choice, Dr. Al-Arian ended his hunger strike on the 140th day of his detention.

The family says that Dr. Al-Arian now feels that the political nature of this case has been apparent to many and that this will be even more evident in the coming months. The family expresses its relief as well as its heartfelt thanks to the countless individuals who have kept Dr. Al-Arian in their prayers and continued their support.