Oct. 31, 2004

Dr. Al-Arian To Be Sent Back to Coleman

Dr. Sami Al-Arian, who has been at a local jail in Tampa, Florida for a few weeks, is due to be sent back to Coleman Federal Penitentiary in Coleman, Florida (75 miles north of Tampa) on Tuesday, Nov. 1, (where conditions are very, very bad). Please see http://www.freesamialarian.com/conditions.htm for more details about the atrocious conditions that Amnesty International has called "gratuitously punitive".

Possibly letters to the judge might help. Below is a letter written by a conscientious supporter. If you would like to write to Judge McCoun, he can receive e-mails at <sonya_cohn@flmd.uscourts.gov>, or his mailing address is:

The Honorable Thomas B. McCoun
Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse
801 N. Florida Ave., #223
Tampa, Florida 33602-3800

Dear Judge McCoun:

I just learned today from the Al-Arian family that Sami Al-Arian is scheduled to be sent back to Coleman on Tuesday. I am very concerned about this since he has not been tried and found guilty of anything; however, as you know, this is a very punitive situation. It also will restrict the likelihood that he will receive a fair trial, since it limits his access to the evidence against him, as well as access to his lawyers.

It also punishes his family greatly. Since he is only allowed one phone call a month at coleman, they must drive to Coleman to find out how is is. The trip entails about three hours of driving, plus lengthy waits to get in to see him, and then only one person can talk to him at a time. Since the children are in school, they only get to see their father once every two weeks. And again since he is not allowed phone calls, they don't even get to hear his voice. This is very extreme and unfair treatment of a pre-trial detainee, and I am writing to ask you to please intervene and let him remain at the Orient Road jail until his trial.

Sincerely,

Melva Underbakke
Temple Terrace, Florida