Dr. Al-Arian's legal papers illegally seized

March 6, 2004

Tampa—

The deplorable treatment of Dr. Sami Al-Arian and Sameeh Hammoudeh by prison guards continued on Thursday, when the men faced a "shakedown" of their prison cell.

During this process, guards wearing vests and masks covering their faces raided the cell, turning it upside down. Although they faced physical distress for an hour and a half, Dr. Al-Arian and his cellmate were concerned about what was happening in their cell in their absence, with regard to their legal papers.

When Dr. Al-Arian and Mr. Hammoudeh returned to their cell, they found that hundreds of pages of their legal documents and personal notes were missing. For 75 minutes, Dr. Al-Arian called for the guards to ask about the stolen documents. When they finally arrived, they told him that they were indeed in their possession.

Al-Arian and Hammoudeh have been under lockdown for a week, during which time they were not allowed to visit with their families or attorneys or make any telephone calls. Their legal mail has also been opened by prison authorities, a blatantly illegal and unconstitutional act.

Furthermore, the men were not able to listen to tape recordings to prepare their defense as the recording equipment was not working.

It is evident that these horrendous circumstances are making the prospect of a fair trial near impossible. The Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace condemns the atrocious, unfair and inhumane prison conditions of Coleman Federal Penitentiary and asks that Dr. Al-Arian and Mr. Hammoudeh be moved to Tampa immediately.

Tampa, where the men's families, legal counsel and the evidence in the case are based, is the most obvious and appropriate place to keep them. Limiting and indeed preventing their access to attorneys, legal documents, and family, as well as humiliating the political prisoners on a near daily basis is a violation of their human rights and intended to sabotage their defense.

Furthermore, moving them to Miami or any other city in the United States for that matter, as was threatened in the past, would be an illogical and inhumane decision that would definitely compromise their defense. It would further show that these measures are part of a continuing emotional, physical and psychological torture of these political prisoners.

All conscientious individuals are encouraged to contact Judge Thomas McCoun, the only individual with the power to change these shameful conditions and ensure that these political prisoners receive a fair
trial.