Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace

May 8, 2005
A Trial Without Context? Dr. Al-Arian’s Attorneys Respond

Tampa–

Last week, Dr. Sami Al-Arian’s attorneys filed a very compelling motion in response to motions earlier submitted by the prosecution. In a case that is wholly politically motivated, the government has asked the judge to prohibit Dr. Al-Arian from discussing the plight of the Palestinian people or history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict during the trial.

Reminiscent of early Zionist literature which attempted to erase the existance of the Palestinian people, the government’s motion referred to Palestinians as “ethnic Palestinians.”

In their motion below, Dr. Al-Arian’s attorneys demonstrate the fundamental injustice in providing a jury with no historical and political context. They write:

“Separating this case from the 50-year conflict between Israel and Palestinians would be like trying to explain Nelson Mandela without an understanding of Apartheid. Without an appropriate historical foundation being laid, even the founding fathers of this country would seem like criminals and outlaws in their resort to armed revolt. The government has continuously sought a trial without context. They seek to introduce Dr. Al-Arian’s words without producing the information that caused him to speak.”

The motion is available as a PDF document. You must download Adobe Reader (free) to view it. http://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/Al-Arian/8-03-cr-00077-JSM-TBM/docs/2112819/0.pdf