Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace
Feb. 26, 2007

TAMPA — Today marks the sixth week of Dr. Sami Al-Arian’s hunger
strike for justice. He is now in a federal prison medical facility in
Butner, North Carolina and has lost over 40 pounds.

During the past two weeks, efforts to support Dr. Al-Arian have
accelerated and intensified across the country and throughout the
world:

*On Wednesday, Feb. 21 in Washington D.C., several national civil
rights groups and American Muslim organizations held a press
conference to ask the Department of Justice to keep its promise to
release Dr. Al-Arian in April. For more information, please see this
report by the Associated Press that was published in dozens of
newspapers across the country:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-
0221alarian,0,5660460.story?coll=sfla-news-florida

*Also last week, Dr. Al-Arian’s family traveled to Norway to attend
the theatrical premiere of the new, critically-acclaimed
documentary “USA vs. Al-Arian.” On the first night of the week-long
trip, Amnesty International-Norway sponsored a screening of the film,
followed by a reception at the Nobel Peace Center, where Nahla Al-
Arian spoke and read a statement of peace on behalf of Dr. Al-Arian:
http://www.freesamialarian.com/nobel.html

The next day, two Norwegian parliamentarians held a screening at the
Parliament that was attended by at least ten other members of
parliament, numerous journalists and Dr. Al-Arian’s family. Both of
these events — and the Al-Arian family’s trip in general — received
much media coverage in Norway. On the final night of the trip, Nahla
Al-Arian was the guest on the most-watched talk show in
Norway, “F�rst & sist” or “First and Last.”

Please read the following two reviews of “USA vs. Al-Arian”:
– http://www.diplo.no/index.php?article=1223
– http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117932652.html?
categoryid=31&cs=1&query=ali

Also, please see this article published in today’s “Washington Post”
about solidarity fasts in support of Dr. Al-Arian:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2007/02/25/AR2007022501198.html

ACTION ALERT:

Given that Dr. Al-Arian has been on a hunger strike since January 22,
we urgently ask all conscientious and justice-seeking individuals to
call, email or write officials to ask for an immediate end to Dr. Al-
Arian’s suffering.
1- Honorable Judge Gerald Lee
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
401 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA 22314

2- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
Department of Justice
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
Fax Number: (202) 307-6777

BY E-MAIL:
E-mails to the Department of Justice, including the Attorney General,
may be sent to AskDOJ@usdoj.gov

3- The Honorable John Conyers, Jr
2426 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5126
(202) 225-0072 Fax
John.Conyers@mail.house.gov

4- Senator Patrick Leahy
433 Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
(299029)224-4242
senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov

Below is a sample fax highlighting key points to address.

SAMPLE FAX:
To the Honorable Judge Gerald Lee
Your Honor,

Dr. Sami Al-Arian is currently on a hunger strike in federal
detention to protest his treatment by U.S. authorities. Family
members have reported that Dr. Al-Arian collapsed on the twenty-
third day of his fast and has been moved from Virginia to a medial
facility in North Carolina. He began his hunger strike more than 3
weeks ago after refusing to testify before a grand jury in Virginia.
His attorneys have indicated that an earlier plea agreement freed
him from further cooperation and that the government’s actions
amount to a form of harassment. On humanitarian grounds I
respectfully request that Dr. Al-Arian’s sentence for civil contempt
be removed.

END.

NOTE: It is critically important to indicate that you are requesting
the removal of the 18 month sentence for civil contempt. Judge Lee
only has jurisdiction over the civil contempt portion of Dr. Al-
Arian’s sentence, thus he cannot release Dr. Al-Arian. However,
Judge Lee can remove the 18 month civil contempt sentence making Dr.
Al-Arian eligible for release in April.