Dr. Al-Arian's Family Visits Him in Medical Facility
March 19, 2007

BUTNER, N.C. –

This past weekend, Dr. Sami Al-Arian's family traveled to Butner, North Carolina to visit him at the federal medical prison facility where he has been held during his 8-week water-only hunger strike. Today marks the 57th day of the hunger strike for justice, in which he has lost 53 pounds, or more than 25 percent of his body weight.

Dr. Al-Arian arrived to the visitation room in a wheelchair because he is too weak and fragile to walk. His wife and youngest children had not seen him in three months. His face was sunken in and his clothes were extremely loose-fitting. Dr. Al-Arian's ears were in pain and he was pale.

His wife, Nahla, said: "I was shocked when I saw my husband. In spirit, he is the same loving husband and father we know, but his physical state has deteriorated rapidly. He is rail thin, but thank God his faith remains strong."

Said his daughter Laila, 25: "When I first saw my father, I couldn't believe how weak and thin he had gotten. Throughout our visit, he was shivering from low body temperature, and his voice was low and weak. He was in some considerable pain and discomfort just sitting there with us. He is a fraction of his former vibrant, lively and exuberant self. The Department of Justice must do the right thing, honor its agreement and end our suffering once and for all."

His eldest son, Abdullah, 26, said: "When I saw my father's deteriorating health, I couldn't help but feel that there is a concerted effort to keep this tragic situation from reaching the American people. We want this to be over but that can only happen once enough people speak out about the government's continued abuse of power."

Dr. Al-Arian's family is very concerned about his health, and one of the goals of the visit was to convince him to end his hunger strike. "He is still determined to continue the hunger strike because he feels that he was wronged tremendously in this situation," said Nahla Al-Arian.

"Although we understand and respect his decision to fast for justice, we are extremely worried for his life. I will return with my children later this week and once again try to convince him to end it."

Hunger Striking

According to the British Medical Journal, "Conclusions from studies recommend independent medical monitoring after a weight loss of 10%  in lean healthy individuals. Major problems arise at a weight loss of about 18%." Dr. Al-Arian has already lost 25% of his body weight.

 "The main disabling symptom is feeling faint and dizzy. Hunger strikers learn to stand up very slowly and may become almost bed   bound. Bradycardia and drop in blood pressure are well recognised as effects of even relatively short fasting and were seen in all the individuals studied closely," the journal continued.

According to the journal, a study of 33 South African political prisoners on hunger strike showed that they lasted for 28 days. Gandhi fasted at least 14 times but never for more than 21 days. Finally, the hunger strikers of the Maze Prison in Belfast in the early 1980s died after 45 to 61 days. Dr. Al-Arian entered his ninth week on Monday, his 57th day.

Media Blackout

Given these grave concerns about Dr. Al-Arian's health, the Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace is concerned that Dr. Al-Arian's hunger strike has received little to no coverage from the mainstream media. We call on all media outlets to report on Dr. Al-Arian's dire situation.

A notable exception to the media blackout is the nationally-syndicated television and radio program "Democracy Now!" On Friday, March 16, the program replayed an excerpt of Dr. Al-Arian's exclusive interview that was first aired on Feb. 8. Nahla Al-Arian was also the guest that day.