TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
Al-Arian Gets Visitors During Hunger Strike
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: March 31, 2008
Related Links
TAMPA - Sami Al-Arian, the former University of South Florida professor who remained in a Virginia prison on contempt of court charges despite his acquittal on serious terrorist charges, has lost 32 pounds in a month-long hunger strike, according to an Islamic group's executive director who visited Al-Arian on Monday.
Sami Al-Arian (2002)
Al-Arian is on his second hunger strike to protest his detention. His family last year moved to Egypt and he is expected to be deported as soon as he is released from prison. But his refusal to testify before a federal grand jury is delaying his release.
"I was really shocked to see how skinny he is and how much weight he lost," said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). "His hunger strike began on March 3, and now he looks like a totally different person from the person I knew five years ago."
Still, Awad said, Al-Arian's spirits are high. "Amazingly, he is composed and he made sense. He was very sharp, very alert.
"He believes in his just cause and we were there to support him," Awad said.
Al-Arian is on his second hunger strike. On March 3, he first refused food and water. He had been taken to a medical facility in North Carolina for treatment but was returned to the Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Va. He is now taking only liquids and has lost 32 pounds.
"This defies logic," Awad said Monday night. "It violates the spirit of justice that this country is so proud of. We just hope that people of conscience and responsible people in the government will look at this case because it is publicized worldwide."
Visiting Al-Arian were representatives of the American Muslim Alliance (AMA), the Muslim American Society (MAS), CAIR, and American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT).
After the visit, the contingent called on the House Judiciary Committee to intervene in the case.
The former professor was tried in federal court two years ago, and acquitted of many of the more serious charges. The jury deadlocked on nine charges and Al-Arian ended up pleading guilty to lesser counts.
"The last thing you want to see," Awad said, "is a political prisoner dying on hunger strike."
Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)
* Keep it clean
* Respect others
* Don't hate
* Don't use language you wouldn't use with your mom
* Use "Report Inappropriate Comments" link when necessary
* See Member Agreement for details
TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online Member Agreement | Privacy Statement | Work With Us
Reader Comments
Posted by ( jeda ) on March 31, 2008 at 8:36 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
this family has suffered so much,there is no justice for this family here in america?
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( goodtimejim ) on March 31, 2008 at 8:58 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Is there Justice for those who died from the financial support he gave to those in the east?
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( brobeth1 ) on March 31, 2008 at 9:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Let his a$$ starve!!! The sooner the better!
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( baron152 ) on March 31, 2008 at 9:22 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
He is withholding information to protect other terrorists. I say stop the fluids too.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( MAJ13TH ) on March 31, 2008 at 9:30 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
OK! OK! FORCE FEED HIM GROUND UP PORKCHOPS AND CHITLINS.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( BlueCollar ) on March 31, 2008 at 9:59 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Yeah! let's KILL everyone who the government says we should be afraid of.
I mean, just because he's been acquitted by an American jury doesn't mean he's not guilty of something, right?
And just because we promised him his freedom if he would simply leave the country is no reason to honor our word, right?
That's the new American way, the way of dictators and tyrants. We don't need laws or courts or that silly old constitution because the Bush administration would never lie to us about something so important as terrorism, right?
Republicans rule by fear. Don't buy into the hype.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( nikita0229 ) on March 31, 2008 at 10:41 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Let's see....how does the justice system work. It works the same for ALL. He pleaded GUILTY to lesser offences in a plea agreement (even though had they continued the trial he COULD have been found guilty of GREATER offenses) For all morons who don't understand a plea deal....it means the defendant is taking the lesser of the two possible consequences if he loses. That does not mean he was exonerated of the charges. He AGREED to testify against other suspects in his plea agreement and NOW is refusing. That is called "Contempt". All Americans are subject to jail for that. Let him hunger strike all he wants. Let him starve to death. HE MADE THE DEAL, NOW LET HIM KEEP IT. I would say that about any defendant on ANY case. This is not a case about race, religion or anything else....please stop calling it that.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( barney ) on March 31, 2008 at 10:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
BlueCollar, you need to change your glasses, you obviously can't see. Your comment are completely distorted from the facts.
1) “Yeah! let's KILL everyone who the government says we should be afraid of.”??? I did not read anything about the government saying to kill anyone. Are we reading the same article?
2) "Acquitted by an American jury"??? NO, he was acquitted of SOME charges, then pleaded guilty to others.
3) "We promised him his freedom if he would simply leave the country"??? Wrong again. He was promised deportation in exchange for his testimony against OTHER terrorist supporters.
4) "Republicans rule by fear"??? Is that as opposed to Democrats ruling by ignorance?
Sorry dude... the only "hype" I don't buy into is the distorted kind of hype that spews from ignorant people like you. Every single comment you had to say is completely wrong and distorted. Anyhow, here is a very simple question for you… If brother Al is so innocent, then why doesn’t he just answer the questions that he already agreed that he would? He wouldn’t have something to hide, would he? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( nikita0229 ) on March 31, 2008 at 10:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Blue collar....I didn't think there was any other sense of reason here. Thanks for your comments. I don't care about Democrats or Republicans.....for this article. This is about the LAW of our country. Who does he think he is that he can made a plea deal, and then think he doesn't have to honor it? Yeah, let all of our prisoners go on hunger strikes and not keep their deal. The sympathy would run rampant for our rapists and child molesters who refused to keep their plea deals, wouldn't it. What is so special about this guy that he doesn't think he has to do his DEAL?????
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( bbdt ) on March 31, 2008 at 11:19 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
BlueCollar is an example of why I dont like liberals. Did he not see the video footage of Al-Arian preaching like a fanatic to the student terrorists in his lecture hall at USF to rise up and take down America? I recall the chant was "Death to America!" to be exact. I want to re emphasis this was on video, not someone's 2nd hand account of what occured. The more these muslim organizations try to support him the more they will isolate and damage the muslim community in the eyes of the majority.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( ron401k ) on March 31, 2008 at 11:35 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( BlueCollar ) on March 31, 2008 at 11:48 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Al-Arian pleaded guilty to a single, minor charge after a jury acquitted him on 8 charges and deadlocked on 9. This plea agreement was supposed to lead to his deportation. The government is abusing the grand jury process in order to punish Al-Arian for crimes that a court has declared him innocent of. That's wrong.
The Justice Department under the Bush Administration has a well deserved reputation for over hyping the arrests of reputed terrorists and then bungling the prosecutions, mostly due to lack of actual evidence.
Traditionally in this country, it does not fall to the President / Justice Department to decide a man's innocence or guilt. Everyone deserves their day in court. Al-Arian has had his day, and the government once again failed to prove their allegations.
And the brainless twits who so bravely call for the cruel and unusual punishment of starving a man who has already served his time in jail fail to see that the constitution protects us all from unfair detention and prosecution, but as soon as we start to shunt aside constitutional protections in favor of security, we lose the very freedoms which form the foundation of our democracy.
Yes, Republicans rule from fear. A fearful populace asks few questions and allows great leeway in the shredding of our civil liberties. A fearful populace remains willfully ignorant of the nastier machinations of their government. In other words, the Republicans also rule from ignorance.
All this ignorance and fear is getting old. It's time for a change.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( ron401k ) on April 1, 2008 at 1:37 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Back in the day when the Constitution was written, there were no Al-Arian types teaching their children to blow up civilians with ball bearing laden explosive vests. Nothing cruel nor unusual about sending their kind back to the dunes which they came from.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( c_jay ) on April 1, 2008 at 4:08 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Well... this current administration certainly has managed to manipulate the patriot act in a moment of fear by everyone, hasn't it?
And as many psychologist have noted that ruling by fear is the fastest least resistent way to get the people to pitter patter behind their "leader". Just like good little dummies should be doing.
If I recall, there was this one dude in this country called Germany... what was his name? Oh yeah, Hitler. That's the guy. He was juuuust as successful about his "patriot act" activities. And it worked just wonderfully didn't it? It has nothing to do with Republican or Democrat.
And I still think Washington was right in his address to the State of the Union... to do away with parties.
It might come to some individuals as a major surprise, but some "liberals" may feel "liberally inclined" in some issues and not so in others.
Same with Republicans. And there is this other dude in California who is a perfect example of that as well. Isn't he? And I vill be baack for more comments on other articles on tbo.com
So, someone fill me in, did I get the wrong movie here? How does the entire Al Arian thing have anything to do with Republican or Democrats again???
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( commentcava ) on April 1, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
great comment, c-jay! i agree, we should outlaw political parties, and make campaign contributions illegal. that way, the only people who run for office will be those who want to serve, not political hacks serving the interests of those who paid for their office.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( bubbles3502 ) on April 1, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
BlueCollar-
I have issues with the comment you made regarding brainless twits calling for the cruel & unusual punishment of starving a man who has already served his time in jail.
1. First off it is not our justice system who is starving him. He is starving himself in hopes that we will look at it as cruel punishment. I personally think if he wants to do this to himself, let him. He's the idiot depriving himself of nourishment.
2. If he would comply with his plea deal then he would be free to be deported.
Make sure you our speaking truths about what is happening before you continue your posts.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( 91stormvet ) on April 1, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
BlueCollar
And Democrats don't rule because they will lose again in the next election. Seems as though the people will speak again for what is right for America and will will not be a FREE LUNCH off of my hard work
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( wtf ) on April 1, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
EITHER KILL HIM OR SEND HIS A*S BACK HOME. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND ANOTHER TAX DOLLAR ON THAT PIECE OF SH*T.
THIS COUNTRY IS SO SCREWED!!!
WHEN THIS COUNTRY CRASHES AND BURNS, WHICH IT WILL, THE ONLY PEOPLE TO BLAME ARE GOING TO BE THE STUPID, LIBERAL, WHITE, HIPPIE, TREE HUGGING, WHINY F*CKERS THAT STAND UP FOR SCUM LIKE THIS.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( barney ) on April 1, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
BlueCollar, yet again you spew distorted rubbish:
1) “Al-Arian pleaded guilty to a single, minor charge” Are you retarded? He pleaded guilty to Conspiracy To Provide Material Support To A Terrorist Organization. That is a “minor” charge in your view?
2) "This plea agreement was supposed to lead to his deportation." Yes, AFTER his compliance with the TERMS of that agreement. Why is that so hard for you to comprehend?
3) "reputation for over hyping the arrests of reputed terrorists and then bungling the prosecutions, mostly due to lack of actual evidence." More bull crap. You really expect anyone to believe that the people (or, rather, animals) who are being arrested are just hard-working, innocent people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time and got arrested for absolutely no reason? I believe the "bungled" prosecutions are due to the government not wanting to reveal their sources. I'm sure you know that too. But, being one of them, you would like for them to flush out the moles.
4) “the brainless twits blah, blah, blah.” I am not even going here. You are so far off the deep end. Loosen up your turban, man. It is distorting your brain.
5) “Republicans rule from fear.” Let me get this straight… You are suggesting that every judge, prosecutor, Justice Dept. operative, etc. involved in this case is a Republican and THAT is the reason why Al-Arian is being “wronged”. What the hell does Republican or Democrat have to do with any of this? We all saw the video of this piece of trash preaching “Death to America” and you stand here and try to defend him??? You are just as much a piece of trash as Al-Arian. I sincerely hope you not an American. Why don’t you go back to that dirt-hole you came from?
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on April 1, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
We ought to water-board him with gravy - that ought to p$$$ him off even more.....
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( Quagmire ) on April 1, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
That's just Nihad Awad hiding behind the moniker of bluecollar. The problem is that big Al will write a book called "how to lose 30 pounds in 30 days" and make a mint from selling copies to the likes of bluecollar and then funnel the money off to his jihad buddies.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( balanced ) on April 1, 2008 at 11 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( Quagmire ) on April 2, 2008 at noon ( Suggest removal )
Perhaps you may want to change your screen name to mentalyimbalanced.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on April 2, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Wow. I cannot believe how stupid people like balanced and Bluecollar are. Here, drink some more of the liberal kool-aid........ douchebads.
Report Inappropriate Comments