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Al-Arian Gains Release

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By KEITH MORELLI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2008

TAMPA - Local supporters of a former University of South Florida professor once accused of being a leading Palestinian terrorist hailed his release from a federal lockup in Virginia on Tuesday as long overdue.

For Sami Al-Arian, it was the first time in five years he has tasted freedom.

Immigration officials released Al-Arian on Tuesday afternoon. They had been holding him for refusing to testify before a grand jury about a cluster of Muslim organizations in northern Virginia. After he had convinced a judge to grant him release on bail, immigration officials said they could not allow him to leave custody because they were preparing deportation paperwork.

Ahmed Bedier, a local civil rights activist and spokesman for the Tampa Islamic community, said the government's portrait of Al-Arian as a terrorist leader has faded over time.

"The same person described by former Attorney General John Ashcroft as the most dangerous terrorist in the country, now is free in the United States," Bedier said. "Some speculated that he would never walk the streets of the U.S. again. It calls into question the doubts people had as to how dangerous this person really was."

The former USF computer science professor was charged five years ago with several terrorism-related offenses but was acquitted of many of those during a highly publicized, six-month federal trial in Tampa in 2005. The jury could not arrive at a verdict on several others. He had been accused of being a leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

He ended up, however, pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to provide help to a terrorist organization. When he refused to testify before a Virginia grand jury, he was cited for contempt of court and has been in jail ever since, awaiting trail on the contempt count.

Last month, a judge postponed that trial amid concerns prosecutors were overzealous in bringing those charges.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema said the government was premature in seeking contempt charges while Al-Arian has a pending appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court arguing that a plea agreement he struck in Tampa exempts him from testifying.

Prosecutors objected to any release.

"It is undisputed that Al-Arian has defied multiple orders of this court for well over a year," Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg wrote in a filing. "Moreover, he has no lawful status in this country, has no property in this country and is barred from employment in this country."

Attorneys for Al-Arian have pushed to either release or deport him.

"We are obviously delighted and relieved that Dr. Al-Arian has been reunited with his family," Jonathan Turley, Al-Arian's attorney, said Tuesday night. "Dr. Al-Arian is eager to contest these charges in court and to secure his permanent release in the days to come."

Bedier said Al-Arian's release couldn't have come at a better time for the embattled former professor and his family.

"This is a significant month," Bedier said. "The month of Ramadan started yesterday. It's a spiritual time, a time to spend with family and friends."

Al-Arian is staying with one of his children in Virginia, Bedier said. His wife is trying to get a flight from her home in Egypt to be with him.

"We are pleasantly surprised and welcome his release," he said. "But the government was running out of options to keeping him locked up. Recently a judge gave him bail. The judge made it clear. Try him or deport him, pick one of the two."

Editor's Note: Former University of South Florida computer professor Sami Al-Arian pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to provide help to a terrorist organization. An earlier version of this story in stated otherwise.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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