ACTION ALERT

For Immediate Release
December 7, 2005

ACTION ALERT: ASK THE DOJ TO DROP ALL CHARGES AGAINST AL-ARIAN!

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, congratulates Palestinian Professor Sami Al-Arian and co-defendants Sameeh Hammoudeh, Ghassan Zayed and Hatem Naji Fariz on the news yesterday that they were acquitted of key charges after a lengthy trial and thirteen days of deliberation by a federal jury. We also congratulate the defendants' families who have
suffered immensely during this ordeal.

Many innocent Arabs have been targeted by the U.S. government since September 11, 2001 often under the powers of the so-called Patriot Act. The acquittals yesterday represent a renewal of faith in the jury system, where average Americans were clearly able to see past the suffocating volume of propaganda directed against Al-Arian and the other co-defendants.

Professor Al-Arian was found not guilty of eight of the 17 counts brought against him and the jury was deadlocked on the other counts, with ten jurors in favor of acquital from these charges and two against. Co-defendants Sameeh Hammoudeh and Ghassan Zayed Ballut were acquitted of all charges against them. Hatem Naji Fariz was found not guilty of 24 counts and jurors deadlocked on the remaining eight.

Professor Al-Arian and Hatem Naji Fariz are now waiting in prison while the Department of Justice prosecutors decide whether or not they wish to go to trial again on the charges on which the jury deadlocked. These charges are based on those of which the co-defendants were found not guilty.

We ask all people of conscience to write and call Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales at the Department of Justice to demand that the government drop all charges and free Dr. Al-Arian and Hatem Naji Fariz forthwith. The defendants and their families have suffered for far too long and must be allowed to get on with their lives.

E-MAIL, CALL and WRITE Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales

E-MAIL: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov
PHONE: 202-514-2001 and 202-353-1555
MAIL: U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

Please cc your correspondence to alerts@al-awda.org
__________________

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
PO Box 131352
Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA
Tel: 760-685-3243
Fax: 360-933-3568
E-mail: info@al-awda.org
WWW: http://al-awda.org