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CAIR seeks Megahed release; father: 'No freedom for Muslims'

News Channel 8 photo by JOE MARTIN

Youssef Megahed's father discussed his son's latest arrest at a news conference today.

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 7, 2009

Updated: 04/07/2009 02:48 pm

As far as Samir Megahed is concerned, the country he wanted to embrace as his own has rejected him and his family.

"My feeling is I'm not living in the United States," Megahed said. "I am not living under the American flag. The American flag has meaning. America is the country of freedom. I think there is no freedom here. For Muslims there is no freedom."

Megahed's son, Youssef, was picked up Monday by immigration officials, more than 11 years after the family moved to the U.S. from Egypt, and three days after a federal jury found Youssef Megahed not guilty of charges of illegally transporting explosives and possession of a destructive device.

Members of the Megahed family have applied for U.S. citizenship.

They celebrated Youseff's court victory Saturday at Fort Desoto Park. Youssef Megahed said he planned to complete his studies at the University of South Florida and live his life as an engineer.

"They want to be Americans," said Ramzy Kilic, executive director of the Tampa Council on American Islamic Relations, who this morning called on the government to respect the jury's verdict and free Youssef Megahed.

Samir and Youssef Megahed were at a Wal Mart on Monday when Samir said they were surrounded by immigration officials, who took Youssef away in a small car with darkened windows. "They kidnapped my son!" Samir Megahed said in a phone call he placed.

The arrest, he said today, was "a complete surprise." "They took him in less than a second."

This morning, the family wasn't sure where Youssef Megahed was being held, although Kilic said he was probably at a federal detention center in Miami.

Samir planned to meet with an attorney this afternoon, and then go to Miami on Wednesday. He said several lawyers have called offering their services for free.

Should his son be deported to Egypt, Samir Megahed said he and the family will join him there. But he said he doesn't think that will happen.

"I chose America to live in," Samir Megahed said. "We want it to be our country. We have a good situation in Egypt, but I prefer America. The future of my son is to be here. Now, they destroyed my future."

Youssef Megahed's trial attorney said Monday the government is trying to deport Megahed based on the accusations he faced at trial - that he illegally possessed and transported explosives.

The charges came after Megahed, 23, and a friend were arrested in South Carolina in 2007 with what deputies said were pipe bombs in the trunk of the car.

The FBI later determined the items were PVC pipes stuffed with a "low explosives" mixture of potassium nitrate and sugar.

Megahed's defense attorneys argued that Megahed did not know his friend, Ahmed Mohamed, had placed the items in the trunk. The defense said the items were model rockets.

The immigration charges brought against Megahed are similar to the criminal charges, Kilic said.

Kilic noted that Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Monk, who prosecuted Megahed, said he respected the verdict.

Referring to Megahed's arrest on Monday, Kilic asked, "What kind of message does this send to the jury and the defendant?"

Speaking at a news conference held at CAIR's Tampa headquarters, a tired Samir Megahed said his son is patient. "Youssef has a good manner and good characteristics, and I think he's waiting for release."

In addition to calling on immigration officials to release Megahed, Kilic urged President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder to personally address the situation.

One local activist, Mel Underbake, who belongs to a group called Friends of Human Rights, said she was disappointed Megahed was arrested again.

"I hoped we would see a return of civil liberties," Underbake said. Megahed "was just a college student doing things that students do on their summer vacation."

Megahed's defense maintained that he and Mohamed were on a road trip visiting beaches when they were arrested.

Mohamed is now serving 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to helping terrorists by posting a video on YouTube showing how to use a remote-controlled toy to detonate a bomb. Megahed was not implicated in that video.

"We believe this has got to stop," Underbake said. "The government needs to respect the decision of the juries."

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com

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