Tampa BAy Coalition for Justice and Peace

The Resolution of Dr. Sami Al-Arian’s Case

April 17, 2006

Tampa- 

As some news outlets have reported, following negotiations between defense and government attorneys that began after last December’s acquittals, there is a resolution in Dr. Sami Al-Arian’s case. At this time, it can be confirmed that in exchange for Dr. Al-Arian’s plea on one of the lesser charges, the government has agreed to drop all remaining charges and expedite his release and voluntary departure to another country. We welcome this resolution following an ordeal that kept Dr. Al-Arian from his family for over three years. Dr. Al-Arian’s family cannot address the details of the plea agreement at this time, but they will do so very soon.

“Sami came to this country 31 years ago in pursuit of the American dream. I’m saddened that we will be leaving the country we love and have called home for most of our lives,” said Dr. Al-Arian’s wife, Nahla. “However, I’m very much looking forward to being reunited with my husband and once again living as a family in freedom.”

The decision to accept the product of these negotiations was made by the Al-Arian family as a whole. Their concern first and foremost was to end Dr. Al-Arian’s suffering. Even after he spent two years in solitary confinement under harsh conditions in a federal penitentiary while awaiting trial, and following his acquittal on the most serious charges, Dr. Al-Arian’s conditions of confinement have remained deplorable. His release will also reunite him with his youngest children, who have been traumatized by their father’s absence in the past three years.

This agreement in no way diminishes from the victory achieved in court. In fact, were it not for the acquittals last December, these negotiations would not have been possible. Following a ten-year investigation and a six-month trial in which the government was afforded every opportunity to present its case, the jury spoke. Over eighty witnesses, hundreds of hours of taped conversations, and thousands of pages of documents were presented, all of which led jurors to the same conclusion: The government failed to produce any evidence to support its charges. Dr. Al-Arian was found innocent of half the charges against him, while jurors disagreed on the remaining charges by a count of 10 to 2 favoring his full acquittal. Two others in the case, Ghassan Ballut and Sameeh Hammoudeh, were acquitted of all charges, dealing a final blow to the government’s theory in the case.

In a statement to the Coalition Dr. Al-Arian’s son, Abdullah, 25, said: “Despite his difficult ordeal, my father’s faith in the U.S. justice system never ceased. In a birthday card he sent me two years ago, my father exhorted me to have faith in the process and contribute what I can to society. These lessons will live not only with his children, but with all whom my father touched through his civil rights work here.”

Dr. Al-Arian’s daughter, Laila, 24, said: “We are so happy and relieved that this nightmare is finally over. As someone who learned from and had faith in America and its Constitution, my father worked within the democratic system to educate people about the tragedy of the Palestinian people. I am confident that wherever my father lives, he will continue to work for the cause of justice for the oppressed and serve as an ambassador for better understanding among nations and cultures.”

Nahla Al-Arian added: “As we approach the close of this difficult chapter in our lives, our family has many people to thank, without whom justice would not have been served. Our attorneys, Bill Moffitt and Linda Moreno, have sacrificed tremendously in taking on this case, and have demonstrated a true commitment to the principles upon which this country was founded. We appreciate all their efforts and applaud their success in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

To the Friends of Human Rights and all of our supporters in Tampa Bay, across the country, and around the world, we thank you for standing with us in this struggle. We pray that the success of our case is a sign of brighter days ahead for all those struggling against political persecution, in America and abroad.”

Finally, we ask that you please respect the Al-Arian family’s privacy in the coming weeks.