Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace
July 2, 2008
Subject: -[TBCJP]- Trial Date Set; Judge to Consider Releasing Al-Arian on Bail

ALEXANDRIA—Dr. Sami Al-Arian was arraigned before the federal court of Judge Leonie Brinkema on Monday. After attorney Jonathan Turley did not enter a plea, Judge Brinkema entered a plea of not guilty on Dr. Al-Arian’s behalf.

Dr. Al-Arian was indicted on two counts of criminal contempt on June 26. At the arraignment hearing, Turley indicated that there would be some major pre-trial motions that would demonstrate the illegitimacy of the indictment for a number of reasons.

Dr. Al-Arian has always maintained that the plea agreement he signed with federal prosecutors in 2006 protected him from being forced to cooperate with the government. Furthermore, according to that agreement, he was to be deported immediately upon concluding his sentence on April 7. Since the indictment was issued two and a half months later, it is also in contravention of the plea agreement.

Finally, Turley told Brinkema that it was not even established that Dr. Al-Arian refused to cooperate. On his blog, Turley previously wrote that Dr. Al-Arian submitted at least two sworn statements addressing government documents and denying any knowledge of criminal behavior on the part of an Islamic think tank based in Virginia. Dr. Al-Arian also offered to take a polygraph test to assert that he was being truthful.
Brinkema set a deadline of August 8 for all pretrial motions. She then set a trial date of August 13, though defense attorneys had requested it be set for September.

Dr. Al-Arian was also ordered moved to the Alexandria Detention Center while awaiting trial. The hearing was delayed for four hours because he was being transported from Portsmouth, Virginia, over 200 miles away. Dr. Al-Arian has spent the past two months there, in the custody of immigration authorities.

The last issue discussed at the hearing was the defense’s request for Dr. Al-Arian to be released on bond pending trial. Dr. Al-Arian has been imprisoned continuously for more than five years, since his arrest on February 20, 2003. He has served his sentence and now awaits trial on a minor charge. Turley pointed out that Dr. Al-Arian deserves to be released and is not a flight risk since the government holds all his travel documents. In addition, he has lived in the United States for more than 33 years and his wife and children are all American citizens. Brinkema stated that she would consider releasing Dr. Al-Arian on bond, pending his interview with pre-trial services and a bond hearing that has yet to be scheduled.

In attendance at the hearing were three of Dr. Al-Arian’s children, as well as members of Friends of Human Rights, from Tampa. There were also members of the local American Muslim community and national media correspondents.

All concerned citizens are urged to write to Judge Brinkema in support of Dr. Al-Arian’s release on bond pending trial. Writers should attest to his character and request that he be allowed to rejoin his family.

If you would like to know, how and where to send the letters, please email: samialarianactioncommittee@gmail.com

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