How unfortunate that the judicial system we so cherish and cite as a positive example before the world has become one of embarrassment and targeted racism. Please read the information below, but more importantly, please ACT!
Dr. Sami Al-Arian is a university professor who has been held as a political prisoner by the US government for over 5 years. No jury has ever found him guilty, and no evidence has ever been presented to back up the US government’s accusations, except that Al-Arian is a Palestinian Muslim who advocated on behalf of Palestinians suffering under Israeli occupation and worked to involve American Muslims in the political process here.
Dr. Al-Arian was scheduled to be released on April 11th, but in March, he was summoned to testify before a third grand jury. Dr. Al-Arian refused, not only because the plea agreement he concluded with the government in 2006 unambiguously exempted him from having to testify, but also because the government prosecutor who sought his testimony was blatantly laying a perjury trap for him. Due to his refusal to testify, Dr. Al-Arian was charged with two counts of criminal contempt on June 26th. His trial will commence on August 13th. Criminal contempt is the only crime that has no maximum penalty; if convicted, Dr. Al-Arian could spend the rest of his life in prison.
See http://www.freesamialarian.com for more info.
Last Thursday (June 26th), three months after refusing to testify before a third grand jury, Dr. Sami Al-Arian – whose trial has been the single most important test case of the PATRIOT Act – was charged on two counts of contempt of court. Dr. Al-Arian refused to testify not only because the plea agreement he concluded with the government in 2006 clearly exempts him from having to do so, but also because it was a clear perjury trap.
The Assistant US Attorney who sought his testimony and who brought the contempt charges, Gordon Kromberg, has made no attempt to hide his bigotry towards Arabs and Muslims. Furthermore, Kromberg has publicly and in no uncertain terms declared his alleged right to use legal loopholes to punish people he cannot convict for any substantial crimes. (See article in posted section for more information on this rogue prosecutor).
Criminal contempt has no maximum penalty; if convicted, DR. AL-ARIAN, A LOVING FATHER OF FIVE, COULD BE SENTENCED FOR LIFE.
These charges are an outrageous abuse of the grand jury system and a naked attempt by the government to punish an innocent man for exercising his first amendment rights.
PLEASE ACT!
2 phone calls + 1 fax = BIG difference!
Friends, please stand with us against this act of tyranny by doing these two simple things:
1. Call Senator Patrick Leahy ((202) 224- 4242) and Congressman John Conyers ((202) 225-5126) – the Judicial Committee chairmen of the Senate and House respectively – and ask them to meet with the Attorney General and have him stop Assistant US Attorney Gordon Kromberg from going forward with this unlawful indictment. Even if you are not their constituent, they are obliged to listen to your opinion since their duties extend to all Americans.
2. Fax a letter to the Office of Professional Responsibility at the US Department of Justice: (202) 514-5050. See the postings section for the letter template.
To find out how to HELP EVEN MORE, please see the discussion board below under “More ways to help.”
Again, you all have our heartfelt thanks for your sincere support at this crucial time.