Showing posts with label Justice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Justice. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Sami Al-Arian Free
Salaam,
News spreading through the family from East coast is that Sami al-arian has been released on bond and AT THIS VERY MOMENT IS FREE!!! (relatively!)
Alhumdulillah, this is quite a Ramadan gift! Spread the word.
News spreading through the family from East coast is that Sami al-arian has been released on bond and AT THIS VERY MOMENT IS FREE!!! (relatively!)
Alhumdulillah, this is quite a Ramadan gift! Spread the word.
Friday, August 29, 2008
American Muslim officer under fire again
Excerpts from an article by Br. Mauri' Saalakhan, to be published soon in one or more American Muslim publications (emphasis added):
May Allah (swt) grant this brother freedom and justice.
The opening lines of a front-page report that appeared in the Monday, July 28, 2008 edition of the Connecticut Post said it all:
“Mustafa Salahuddin has a scrapbook filled with commendations he has earned during nearly two decades as a police officer. There are thank-you notes from people whose cases Salahuddin has investigated. There are certificates from the Ansonia Police Department marking milestones of service and successful investigations. But now, Salahuddin faces larceny charges that he says will tarnish the reputation he has tried to build as a respected and responsible officer.”
In July 2008, Officer Salahuddin was charged with stealing a $25 garden hose from the Ansonia Police Department, even though it was later found on the grounds of the department. Salahuddin maintains the charge was lodged in retaliation over his differences with the department’s leadership. He has a history of not only standing up for his rights, but standing up for the rights of others as well.
As noted in an interview with the Connecticut Post, Salahuddin stated, “I’m a very outspoken officer within the department. I stand up for my rights and I help others stand up for theirs.” This has resulted in friction between him and members of the upper command, including Ansonia Police Chief Kevin Hale.
It should also be noted that Officer Salahuddin was the first Muslim police officer in America to successfully sue his department for the right to reasonable religious accommodations - his request to wear a neatly-trimmed beard while in uniform. He believes that among other issues, there are lingering resentments stemming from that successful lawsuit which also factor into this latest attack on his otherwise sterling reputation.
Chief Hale reportedly asked the State Police to investigate the possible theft of the water hose after a Department of Public Works employee reported the hose missing, and a surveillance camera reportedly showed Officer Salahuddin with the hose in his possession. (You heard it right; the police chief requested the intervention of the State Police concerning a $25 waterhose, and before speaking with the officer in question himself.)
...
He said something else in his interview with the Connecticut Post that for this writer was chilling: “My tenure here has been good in terms of the community, but a disaster in terms of the department. On the streets I feel safe, but in the department I never feel safe.”
...
Officer Salahuddin’s principled commitment to being a “good officer” has been rewarded with very visible support from the community he has served. The state and local branches of the NAACP, in conjunction with a local church, led a protest march on Monday, July 28, in support of Officer Salahuddin. The crowd marched from the Clinton AME Church on Central Avenue to City Hall, where Ansonia Mayor Jim Della Volpe came out to speak to them.
...
Officer Mustafa S. Salahuddin has been placed on administrative leave with pay until the case is resolved. He has been charged with “Larceny in the Sixth Degree,” for which he has already pled NOT GUILTY. His trial is scheduled to begin on the morning of Thursday, September 4, 2008, in the Derby Superior Court - located at 106 Elizabeth Street, Derby, Connecticut 06418.
May Allah (swt) grant this brother freedom and justice.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Stand up for Justice: Speak up for Sami
Submitted by Guest Blogger Zeenat Iqbal
"Our defense is not in our armaments, nor in science, nor in going underground. Our defense is in our law and order." - Albert Einstein
In November 2007, the world was up in arms at the disintegration of the fundamental rule of law in Pakistan – resulting from the dismissal of Supreme Court justices, the arbitrary detention and abuse of human rights activists and political dissenters and the claim that "judicial interference" was an underlying premise of the declaration of the state of emergency. The American Bar Association, local Bar associations, human rights activists and even to some extent, Congress, loudly and strongly criticized the Musharraf government, and condemned its actions. It is incomprehensible - then - that the very same advocates are not up in arms in the face of the disintegration of the fundamental rule of law in the United States.
Dr. Al Arian was publicly indicted in 2003, endured an agonizing five month trial (costing over $50M), and in light of every obstacle - was acquitted (i.e. 12 jurors voted not guilty) on 8 of the 17 charges. The jury was 10-2 in favor of acquittal on the remaining nine charges, which is an overwhelming number - usually adequate for the government to abandon further prosecution. This however, was no ordinary case. The orders for Dr. Al Arian's 2003 arrest came from high up in the Department of Justice, and he was going to be held up as the poster child for prosecution under the Patriot Act. The fact that the government's defeat was considered "one of the Justice Department's most embarrassing legal setbacks since 9/11," did not deter.
In the shadow of another trial (the nine charges could have been retried), Dr. Al Arian - who had by this time spent over 34 months in prison, away from his wife and five children (two of whom were barely into their teens), under harsh and demeaning conditions, and was knee deep in legal fees, all for no wrong doing on his part - agreed to cut a deal with the government. One guilty plea, in exchange for a ticket out of the country once he had served his sentence, and no obligation to cooperate with the government in any following legal proceedings.
Sweet deal?
Not even close. Almost immediately after the deal was set, Dr. Al Arian faced continued harassment. First, at the hands of a bigoted federal judge Dr. Al Arian was accused of actions that he had been acquitted of only months before, and was sentenced to the highest possible term - 57 months. It's a miracle that the time he had already served was honored, leaving only about 20 months to serve. Second, no sooner had he begun to serve his sentence did the Department of Justice start their next onslaught - subpoenaing Dr. Al Arian to appear as a witness before a grand jury (for an unrelated matter). Since then, he has been called before two additional grand juries (for a total of three) - each of which he has refused to appear before for two reasons. One, a matter of principle, and two, a matter of self defense. Dr. Al Arian's plea agreement had been negotiated in a way such that he would not be required to cooperate, and the government should be required to honor its agreement. Dr. Al Arian had also been advised by his attorneys that his testimony may lead to a perjury trap.
The perjury trap is a (very common) technique used by desperate prosecutors that are unable to convict a defendant on substantive criminal charges. The nature of the grand jury proceedings is self serving in of itself - the proceedings are held with only the prosecutor and the grand jury in the room, and inevitably end up in an indictment for the government to enforce; it is completely antithetical to the adversarial nature, and hence relative transparency, of our justice system. To illustrate the absurdity of the grand jury, Judge Sol Wachtler, the former Chief Judge of New York State, stated that a prosecutor could persuade a grand jury to "indict a ham sandwich" - a prosecutor has free reign, and is barely restrained through the usual protections in a normal courtroom. In a grand jury proceeding, according to Jon Turley, if "the government wants to charge your client with perjury, it is almost certain to be able to do so by asking enough questions over the course of the proceeding." (Free Sami Al-Arian) The government has already attempted to distort Dr. Al Arian's words and bring more charges against him, indicating its intent to go after him in any way they can. Hence the added absurdity - if Dr. Al Arian testifies before the grand jury - he is undoubtedly going to be charged with perjury, in a continuation of the harsh prosecutorial tactics by the DOJ and its Asst. US Attorneys (AUSAs) - particularly AUSA Gorden Kromberg.
So - basically - Dr. Al Arian is now caught between the fat and the fire.
On the one hand, if he agrees to testify - Dr. Al Arian will no doubt be cornered, his words distorted and in some way accused of perjury - the only weapon left in the government's arsenal.
On the other hand, if he continues to refuse to testify - as he has for the past three grand juries - the DOJ is likely going to bring criminal contempt charges against him, which hold a sentence of upto 5 years.
The final layer, in this extremely complicated legal battle, is time and the running clock. As of April 11, 2008, Dr. Al Arian has completed his sentence which included an additional 11 months for which he was held in civil contempt for failure to testify before the second grand jury in 2007. The government has since transferred Dr. Al Arian to immigration custody - presumably for deportation. He has continued to suffer at the hands of insensitive and irrational jail personnel who continually offend his dignity and his fundamental human rights. In another twist of logic, it appears that Dr. Al Arian will not be deported any time soon. Whether he will remain at his current facility - Hampton Roads in Virginia - or if he will continue to be shuttled around from facility to facility while the DOJ plans its next move is yet to be seen.
So - what is a man to do in the face of gross misuse of power, injustice and ultimately, no political support? Dr. Al Arian - a strong believer in activism - has begun a non-violent protest, in the only form he has left. He is on a hunger strike (think Gandhi), now past 46 days without food. Here again, time is the enemy - each day that Dr. Al Arian continues his protest, he grows weaker and more vulnerable to his medical conditions (diabetes, for one thing) that are going un-attended.
At this point - if you've chosen to read this far - your question is probably: why should we care?
The answer is simple, and almost deafening. We should care because the prosecution and continued persecution of Dr. Al Arian has cost American tax payers over $50M. We should care because a man's life is at stake, and our efforts from the outside can save him - the saving of one life, is like saving all of humanity and we have that opportunity. We should care because we live in a civilized society with a fundamental rule of law that our country was founded upon, and our freedoms depend on - the continued imprisonment of Dr. Al Arian is not in accordance with the rule of law. We should care because no matter what - when a debt (reasonable or not) is paid, the bondage should not continue. We should care because our ancestors either founded this country or came to it with a common goal - the ability to be free, and live fully in a just and fair society without persecution for thoughts, beliefs or practices.
Dr. Al Arian stands for everything we hold dear - free speech, free expression, political participation, and most importantly - justice. If we don't speak up, our silence will muffle the voices of those that speak truth to power.
Contribute to Dr. Al Arian's legal fund at: Free Sami Now
Also check out the 53 minute version of the documentary USA v. Al Arian at Link TV.
(These videos are accurate upto March 2008; Dr. Al Arian has since been transferred to immigration custody and awaits deportation - which is not forthcoming. Immigration authorities are holding Dr. Al Arian indefinitely, and he is being subject to grave mistreatment. Please see Free Sami Now for how to help, and to learn more about this case.)
"Our defense is not in our armaments, nor in science, nor in going underground. Our defense is in our law and order." - Albert Einstein
In November 2007, the world was up in arms at the disintegration of the fundamental rule of law in Pakistan – resulting from the dismissal of Supreme Court justices, the arbitrary detention and abuse of human rights activists and political dissenters and the claim that "judicial interference" was an underlying premise of the declaration of the state of emergency. The American Bar Association, local Bar associations, human rights activists and even to some extent, Congress, loudly and strongly criticized the Musharraf government, and condemned its actions. It is incomprehensible - then - that the very same advocates are not up in arms in the face of the disintegration of the fundamental rule of law in the United States.
Dr. Al Arian was publicly indicted in 2003, endured an agonizing five month trial (costing over $50M), and in light of every obstacle - was acquitted (i.e. 12 jurors voted not guilty) on 8 of the 17 charges. The jury was 10-2 in favor of acquittal on the remaining nine charges, which is an overwhelming number - usually adequate for the government to abandon further prosecution. This however, was no ordinary case. The orders for Dr. Al Arian's 2003 arrest came from high up in the Department of Justice, and he was going to be held up as the poster child for prosecution under the Patriot Act. The fact that the government's defeat was considered "one of the Justice Department's most embarrassing legal setbacks since 9/11," did not deter.
In the shadow of another trial (the nine charges could have been retried), Dr. Al Arian - who had by this time spent over 34 months in prison, away from his wife and five children (two of whom were barely into their teens), under harsh and demeaning conditions, and was knee deep in legal fees, all for no wrong doing on his part - agreed to cut a deal with the government. One guilty plea, in exchange for a ticket out of the country once he had served his sentence, and no obligation to cooperate with the government in any following legal proceedings.
Sweet deal?
Not even close. Almost immediately after the deal was set, Dr. Al Arian faced continued harassment. First, at the hands of a bigoted federal judge Dr. Al Arian was accused of actions that he had been acquitted of only months before, and was sentenced to the highest possible term - 57 months. It's a miracle that the time he had already served was honored, leaving only about 20 months to serve. Second, no sooner had he begun to serve his sentence did the Department of Justice start their next onslaught - subpoenaing Dr. Al Arian to appear as a witness before a grand jury (for an unrelated matter). Since then, he has been called before two additional grand juries (for a total of three) - each of which he has refused to appear before for two reasons. One, a matter of principle, and two, a matter of self defense. Dr. Al Arian's plea agreement had been negotiated in a way such that he would not be required to cooperate, and the government should be required to honor its agreement. Dr. Al Arian had also been advised by his attorneys that his testimony may lead to a perjury trap.
The perjury trap is a (very common) technique used by desperate prosecutors that are unable to convict a defendant on substantive criminal charges. The nature of the grand jury proceedings is self serving in of itself - the proceedings are held with only the prosecutor and the grand jury in the room, and inevitably end up in an indictment for the government to enforce; it is completely antithetical to the adversarial nature, and hence relative transparency, of our justice system. To illustrate the absurdity of the grand jury, Judge Sol Wachtler, the former Chief Judge of New York State, stated that a prosecutor could persuade a grand jury to "indict a ham sandwich" - a prosecutor has free reign, and is barely restrained through the usual protections in a normal courtroom. In a grand jury proceeding, according to Jon Turley, if "the government wants to charge your client with perjury, it is almost certain to be able to do so by asking enough questions over the course of the proceeding." (Free Sami Al-Arian) The government has already attempted to distort Dr. Al Arian's words and bring more charges against him, indicating its intent to go after him in any way they can. Hence the added absurdity - if Dr. Al Arian testifies before the grand jury - he is undoubtedly going to be charged with perjury, in a continuation of the harsh prosecutorial tactics by the DOJ and its Asst. US Attorneys (AUSAs) - particularly AUSA Gorden Kromberg.
So - basically - Dr. Al Arian is now caught between the fat and the fire.
On the one hand, if he agrees to testify - Dr. Al Arian will no doubt be cornered, his words distorted and in some way accused of perjury - the only weapon left in the government's arsenal.
On the other hand, if he continues to refuse to testify - as he has for the past three grand juries - the DOJ is likely going to bring criminal contempt charges against him, which hold a sentence of upto 5 years.
The final layer, in this extremely complicated legal battle, is time and the running clock. As of April 11, 2008, Dr. Al Arian has completed his sentence which included an additional 11 months for which he was held in civil contempt for failure to testify before the second grand jury in 2007. The government has since transferred Dr. Al Arian to immigration custody - presumably for deportation. He has continued to suffer at the hands of insensitive and irrational jail personnel who continually offend his dignity and his fundamental human rights. In another twist of logic, it appears that Dr. Al Arian will not be deported any time soon. Whether he will remain at his current facility - Hampton Roads in Virginia - or if he will continue to be shuttled around from facility to facility while the DOJ plans its next move is yet to be seen.
So - what is a man to do in the face of gross misuse of power, injustice and ultimately, no political support? Dr. Al Arian - a strong believer in activism - has begun a non-violent protest, in the only form he has left. He is on a hunger strike (think Gandhi), now past 46 days without food. Here again, time is the enemy - each day that Dr. Al Arian continues his protest, he grows weaker and more vulnerable to his medical conditions (diabetes, for one thing) that are going un-attended.
At this point - if you've chosen to read this far - your question is probably: why should we care?
The answer is simple, and almost deafening. We should care because the prosecution and continued persecution of Dr. Al Arian has cost American tax payers over $50M. We should care because a man's life is at stake, and our efforts from the outside can save him - the saving of one life, is like saving all of humanity and we have that opportunity. We should care because we live in a civilized society with a fundamental rule of law that our country was founded upon, and our freedoms depend on - the continued imprisonment of Dr. Al Arian is not in accordance with the rule of law. We should care because no matter what - when a debt (reasonable or not) is paid, the bondage should not continue. We should care because our ancestors either founded this country or came to it with a common goal - the ability to be free, and live fully in a just and fair society without persecution for thoughts, beliefs or practices.
Dr. Al Arian stands for everything we hold dear - free speech, free expression, political participation, and most importantly - justice. If we don't speak up, our silence will muffle the voices of those that speak truth to power.
Contribute to Dr. Al Arian's legal fund at: Free Sami Now
Also check out the 53 minute version of the documentary USA v. Al Arian at Link TV.
(These videos are accurate upto March 2008; Dr. Al Arian has since been transferred to immigration custody and awaits deportation - which is not forthcoming. Immigration authorities are holding Dr. Al Arian indefinitely, and he is being subject to grave mistreatment. Please see Free Sami Now for how to help, and to learn more about this case.)
Monday, March 17, 2008
Two Minutes for Dr. Al-Arian
It's day 14 of Dr. Al-Arian's hunger strike, he's lost 25 pounds and he isn't getting the medical attention he needs. Oh and did you forget that he's imprisoned despite a jury's inability to find him guilty of anything?
You've got your wedding dress and jacket ready? Your party menu is set? Your sinuses got you down? You ready for finals?
I don't know. If I had to weigh the questions I'm scared of being asked on the day of judgment, none of the above really frightens me. The one that does:
Did you do EVERYTHING you could?
Do yourself a favor, and do something for Dr. Al-Arian.
Two ideas to get you started:
1. Please call the Butner Medical Center today and inquire about Dr. Al-Arian's health. Ask why they haven't taken any steps to give him an IV to make sure he survives. Their number is (919) 575-3900.
2. Send a letter. We've got the form, all you have to do is personalize and hit send:
To: The Honorable John Conyers, Jr. (john.conyers@mail.house.gov); Senator Patrick Leahy (senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov); U.S. Department of Justice (AskDOJ@usdoj.gov)
To whom it may concern:
My name is xxx, and I am one of the many United States citizens who are concerned about the health of this country's democratic apparatus. One striking example of the numerous miscarriages of justice, is that of Dr. Sami Al-Arian. I am deeply concerned for the health of Dr. Sami Al-Arian who currently remains incarcerated, despite the fact that he has been acquitted of all serious charges brought against him by the U.S. government. Dr. Sami Al-Arian has been on a hunger strike now for over ten days, and has been refused adequate medical care (as simple as an IV!) He is close to dying from starvation.
In the spirit of our constitution and all that it contains pertaining to the civil rights of U.S. citizens, I beseech you to take an initiative in the immediate end to Dr. Al-Arian's suffering, and to responsibly care for his deteriorating health.
Regards,
xxx
Go on, do something. We can all spare a few minutes from Grey's and Eli Stone to help a brother out.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Imam Jamil Update
(From: Free Imam Jamil Al-Amin)
As some of you may already know, Jamil Al-Amin has been moved to the United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX), which is a super-max prison in Florence, Colorado. This facility generally houses over 400 prisoners, and each prisoner is assigned to one of six security levels. At this time it is unclear which level Jamil Al-Amin had been assigned to. Most prisoners at this facility are kept for at least 23 hours each day in solitary confinement (Jamil Al-Amin was already kept under 23 hour lock down since 2002).
This Penitentiary is "home" to many high profile prisoners, including Omer Abdel-Rahman ("the Blind Sheik") and many of the other 1993 accused World Trade Center "conspirators", Zacarias Moussaoui, Theodore Kazcynski, Terry Nichols, Richard Reid, Robert Hanssen, Eric Rudolph, and John Walker Lindh. Additionally there numerous high ranking members and leaders of groups including skinheads, several gangs and drug rings.
There is a growing pubic outcry against these types of maximum security facilities, and efforts are underway to organize a public resistance movement. These types of facilities have been created by the united states government to in essence break down the inmates. This type of isolation and mistreatment over time is a form of torture and should be a great source of embarrassment for a "leading nation" as the United States claims to be.
The main goal for supporters at this point is to make this new facility very aware of the public support for Jamil Al-Amin. There is a mass effort underway to flood the prison with mail for him.
Please note: According to prison regulations, all mail is opened, read, and censored. (Please do not let that affect your decision to write.)
His mailing address is:
Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin
Reg. No. 99974-555
Florence ADMAX USP
P.O. Box 8500
Florence, CO 81226
As some of you may already know, Jamil Al-Amin has been moved to the United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX), which is a super-max prison in Florence, Colorado. This facility generally houses over 400 prisoners, and each prisoner is assigned to one of six security levels. At this time it is unclear which level Jamil Al-Amin had been assigned to. Most prisoners at this facility are kept for at least 23 hours each day in solitary confinement (Jamil Al-Amin was already kept under 23 hour lock down since 2002).
This Penitentiary is "home" to many high profile prisoners, including Omer Abdel-Rahman ("the Blind Sheik") and many of the other 1993 accused World Trade Center "conspirators", Zacarias Moussaoui, Theodore Kazcynski, Terry Nichols, Richard Reid, Robert Hanssen, Eric Rudolph, and John Walker Lindh. Additionally there numerous high ranking members and leaders of groups including skinheads, several gangs and drug rings.
There is a growing pubic outcry against these types of maximum security facilities, and efforts are underway to organize a public resistance movement. These types of facilities have been created by the united states government to in essence break down the inmates. This type of isolation and mistreatment over time is a form of torture and should be a great source of embarrassment for a "leading nation" as the United States claims to be.
The main goal for supporters at this point is to make this new facility very aware of the public support for Jamil Al-Amin. There is a mass effort underway to flood the prison with mail for him.
Please note: According to prison regulations, all mail is opened, read, and censored. (Please do not let that affect your decision to write.)
His mailing address is:
Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin
Reg. No. 99974-555
Florence ADMAX USP
P.O. Box 8500
Florence, CO 81226
For more information visit: Free the Imam
Friday, July 6, 2007
Are You Just?
Submitted By Guest Blogger Ahmed Ibn Aslam
"The just ruler is the one who calls people to tawhid, calls people to the sunnah. If you want to be just in your community, in your society, in your family, in your masjid you have to make the priority to teach people the sunnah, teach people tawhid, otherwise you are not just. If you are just in all other aspects but you dont call people towards tawhid you are being unjust with Allah , this is the greatest injustice you can ever do. Therefore Umar Bin Abdel Aziz ( the 5th rightly guided calipha) said: My way of changing the muslim situation will be to teach them one sunnah everyday and to eliminate one bidah" everyday."
Shaykh Waleed Basyouni
CD SET: 7 People Under the Shade of the Throne of Allah
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