March 12, 2008
BUTNER, NC. --
Dr. Sami Al-Arian was transferred yesterday morning,
on the 9th day of his hunger strike, to a federal medical
facility in Butner,North Carolina run by the Bureau of Prisons.
Since beginning his no-water or food hunger strike on March 3,
Dr. Al-Arian has lost 23 pounds and grown weaker. He has not
yet been given an IV. A doctor who examined him on Monday
said he is suffering from starvation and dehydration.
You may write to
Dr. Al-Arian at his new address:
Dr. Sami Al-Arian (#40939-018)
FMC BUTNER
FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER
P.O. BOX 1600
BUTNER, NC 27509
Also, see press coverage of his transfer and an
important article about his case that ran yesterday
in the respected legal publication the Jurist.
I. Inmate on hunger strike transferred to medical prison
Associated Press
Mar. 11, 2008
http://www.dailypress.com/news
WARSAW, Va.
A former university professor who has refused for
nearly two years to testify before a grand jury
investigating Muslim charities and businesses was
transferred to a medical prison after reaching the
eighth day of a hunger strike.
Former University of South Florida professor
Sami al-Arian stopped taking food or water last week
to protest a third attempt by prosecutors to compel
his testimony.
Northern Neck Regional Jail supervisor Ted Hull
said Al-Arian was transferred Tuesday from the
Warsaw jail to the federal medical prison in Butner,
North Carolina.
Prosecutors alleged that al-Arian was a leader of the Palestinian
Islamic Jihad. But his 2005 trial ended in an acquittal on some
counts and a hung jury on others. He eventually pleaded guilty to
lesser charges.
Since then, prosecutors have sought his testimony for a related
investigation, but al-Arian has refused despite a grant of immunity.
Copyright © 2008, Newport News, Va., Daily Press
II. The Torture of Sami Al-Arian
By Peter Erlinder
Mar. 11, 2008
The storm of criticism that followed George Bush's weekend veto of
Congressional limits on the CIA's use of torture might lead to the
conclusion that, reprehensible as "torture" might be in remote,
secret CIA locations, it could never happen here in the US. But the
Bush administration's abuse of power in its treatment of Dr. Sami al
Arian and other acquitted Palestinian "terrorism-defendants" has
already demonstrated that "torture" for this administration is
commonplace - even here.
In December 2005, a Tampa jury acquitted Dr. Al Arian of
"terrorism" charges. Two years later he is still in prison,
and in the 6th day of a hunger-strike because the Bush
administration refuses to honor a May 2006 promise to
release and deport him. Unless he receives proper
medical care within days, he risks irreversible renal
failure and death - all under the watchful eyes of the
Bush "Justice" Department.
Apparently, "legal black holes" like Guantanamo can
be created without having to set-up a special overseas
prison, if domestic law can be sufficiently manipulated.
And the Bush administration is very,
very good at manipulation, both legal and otherwise.
PLEASE READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE:
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu
III. TAKE ACTION
How You Can Help Sami Al-Arian
Friends of Human Rights joins the Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and
Peace calling on all supporters of justice to continue and work
toward Dr. Al-Arian's freedom. The Department of Justice must
continue to hear from conscientious Americans not to continue its
abuse of the justice system and punishment of Dr. Al-Arian and his
family through a third grand jury or a criminal contempt charge.
Furthermore, Congress must act to investigate these abuses and
ensure that justice is served in this and other cases.
Please write:
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
(202) 307-6777 Fax
askdoj@usdoj.gov
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Professional Responsibility
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530
House Judiciary Chair:
The Honorable John Conyers, Jr
2426 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5126
(202) 225-0072 Fax
john.conyers@mail.house.gov
Senate Judiciary Chair:
Senator Patrick Leahy
433 Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-4242
senator_leahy@leahysenate.gov
To contribute to Dr. Al-Arian's legal defense, please send checks to:
National Liberty Fund
P.O. Box 1211
24525 E. Welches Road
Welches, OR 97067
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