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Debbie Almontaser was the principal of Khalil Gibran International Academy before she was forced to resign in a firestorm of controversy stirred up by anti-Muslim groups. While the school was getting ready to open she kept a low profile, but now is starting to fight back.

Previous posts on this subject:
VIDEO: New Yorkers Rally to Defend Arabic-Language School
Communities in Support of the Khalil Gibran International Academy

Below is a community bulletin, virtually verbatim:
--Konrad

A bulletin from Communities in Support of Khalil Gibran International Academy (CSKGIA):

Subject: PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW TO SAY NO TO ANTI-ARAB AND ANTI-MUSLIM RACISM

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW--YOUR SUPPORT WOULD BE SO MEANINGFUL
STAND WITH US TO SAY NO TO ANTI-ARAB AND ANTI-MUSLIM RACISM

Monday, November 19, 2007
5:00 PM @ the new Federal Courthouse
500 Pearl Street, near Foley Square
Worth Street entrance
[Worth St. between Baxter & Mulberry Streets, a block east of Foley Sq.: J, M, Z train to Chambers or Canal; #4, 5, 6 to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall; N, R, W to Canal St.; #1 to Franklin; A, C to Chambers (at Church); 2, 3 to Chambers (at West Broadway). map at <http://tinyurl.com/mg9bb/> --t.]

PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING DEBBIE ALMONTASER'S LAWSUIT AGAINST THE DOE, THE CHANCELLOR, AND THE MAYOR

This Monday, Debbie will be filing a lawsuit against the DOE, the Chancellor, and the Mayor for violation of her free speech rights under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. As Debbie's lawyer announces the filing of the lawsuit,

We want to show the DOE, the Mayor, and the media, that this is more than just a lawsuit--this is a movement of communities and individuals standing together to say NO to racism and discrimination (Watch Debbie's speech about her forced resignation: http://kgia.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/press-release-oct-17/)!

Stand up for Multicultural Education!
Stand up Against Racism & Xenophobia
Stand with Debbie Almontaser!
Justice for Debbie! Justice for the Community!

About CISKGIA

We are individuals and organizations from a multitude of communities and backgrounds, who have come together in support of the Khalil Gibran International Academy. Both the school and its founding principal, Debbie Almontaser, have endured a vicious anti-Arab and anti-Muslim smear campaign for the past several months, which resulted in Ms. Almontaser's forced resignation.

For more information: http://kgia.wordpress.com

Posted by Konrad at 05:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Monday, supporters of Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA) held a rally outside the Department of Education. Many members of the press (including Fox News) squeezed into the tight space allotted by the NYPD for the demonstration. The speeches focused on setting the media and public straight about how KGIA will foster understanding of the Arab language and culture, and how desperately the school is needed to educate ambassadors who can one day overcome the bigotry and ignorance displayed by the backlash against the school and its principal, Debbie Almontaser.

They also shed light on the unfortunate controversy which led to Almontaser's resignation -- a widely reported incident in which she explained what the word "intifada" means instead of kowtowing to widespread pro-Israel bias by immediately condemning the Palestinian people's struggle for self-determination. When Randi Weingarten, President of the United Federation of Teachers, added her own voice to the right-wing media's attempts to portray Almontaser as an extremist, the principal decided to resign for the sake of the school.

Below is the video I shot of the event and hastily cut together into nine minutes of highlights from the speeches.

The speakers featured in this video are:

Rabbi Michael Feinberg
Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition

Mona Eldahry
Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media (AWAAM)

Deborah Howard
Khalil Gibran International Academy Planning Team

Sarah Said
Family member of a student at Khalil Gibran International Academy

Priscilla Gonzalez
Center for Immigrant Families

Reverend Clinton Miller
Brown Memorial Church, Brooklyn

Note that these supporters are all from relevant communities in Brooklyn and NYC. The opponents of the school are all pundits funded by right-wing extremists and their puppet websites. As Rabbi Feinberg points out, the one anti-KGIA group that claims to be a "community" organization, stopthemadrassa.org, is a coalition between race-baiting anti-immigration group NY-ICE, anti-Muslim organization United American Committee, and pro-Iraq war organization Gathering of Eagles; the donations go to self-described "American security" policy organization Center for Security Policy.

Why these well-funded right-wing groups with such lofty agendas are so hysterical about a little school in Brooklyn teaching Arabic is an interesting question. Human rights activist David Wilson wrote:

Of course, it's horrible, what they've done to this poor school and the principal--now ex-principal--but it also shows how desperate the right wing is to find a popular issue at this point. Before, they were happily overthrowing governments and wiping out populations; now they expend all this energy to bully a little school in Brooklyn. I don't quote the Bible that much, but: Deposuit potentes de sede--he hath put the mighty down from their seats.

Posted by Konrad at 06:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A COMMUNITY BUILDING EVENT

WATCH VIDEO!

Monday, August 20, 6pm
Tweed Courthouse
52 Chambers Street
Subways: 4, 5, 6, N, R, W, M, J, 2, 3, A, C

As New Yorkers and others in support of quality public education for all of our communities, we stand in solidarity with the Khalil Gibran International Academy, which has sustained hateful and false attacks by anti-Arab media and extremists. In the post-9/11 world, a school educating our children about Arab history, culture, and language is not only crucial for the next generation to become informed leaders for positive change in our communities; it is also an extraordinary place of hope for peace, understanding, and justice for our embattled world. We regret that Debbie Almontaser was pressured to resign and applaud her work to establish this school and promote intercultural exchange in this diverse global city.

Those who seek to equate the study of Arabic language, culture, and history with religious fanaticism and violence are irresponsibly aggravating a present moment of hysteria against Arab and Muslim communities, and are using this moment to promote hatred in a time of war. We urge our public officials to reject these racist and inaccurate attacks, and continue to work towards building a lasting educational institution that promises to bring our communities together, rather than divide and pit them against each other. We call on all communities who want to see peace on our streets and in our world to stand with us in support of the Khalil Gibran International Academy.

Sponsors Sign on!
Arab Resource and Organizing Center, San Francisco, CA
AWAAM: Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media
Brown Memorial Baptist Church
Center for Immigrant Families
Council on American Islamic Relations - NY
Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition
Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ)
Muslim Consultive Network
WFD Program Steering Committee at First Unitarian Congregational Society of Brooklyn

Organizational Endorsers Sign on!
Adalah-NY: Coalition for Justice in the Middle East
The African American Islamic Institute (AAII)
Brecht Forum
Brooklyn For Peace (formerly Brooklyn Parents for Peace)
Ethical Action Commitee of the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
Independent Commission on Public Education
Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives, Brooklyn
Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Oakland Chapter
Peoples MEDIA Center
Sunset Park Alliance of Neighbors
WESPAC Foundation

Individual Endorsers Sign on!
Katherine Acey, Concerned Brooklyn Resident
Rev. Elizabeth Alexander, Church of the Gethsemane
Reshma Baig & Yahiya Emerick, Islamic Foundation of North America (IFNA)
Aleise Barnett, NYC Public School Teacher
Rev. Dr. Robert L. Brashear, Pastor, West-Park Presbyterian Church; Pres, Interfaith Assembly on Housing & Homelessness
Lisel Burns, Clergy Leader, Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
Ashaki H. Taha-Cisse, Executive Director, African American Islamic Institute (AAII)
Carolyn Rusti Eisenberg, Brooklyn for Peace
Rabbi Michael Feinberg, Executive Director, Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition
Alice Fisher, Abrahamic Network of NY & Member of Congregation B'nai Jeshuran, NYC
Martha Gallahue, Concerned Parent in Brooklyn
Carol Horwitz, Concerned Brooklyn Resident
Valerie Kameya, Concerned Brooklyn Resident
Youme Landowne, Artist and Educator
Gail Lerner, NYC
Laura Liben, Teaching Artist, NY Public Schools
Dr. Lucinda Mosher, Interreligious Relations Consultant
Saul Nieves, Activist and Union Organizer
Robert Patterson, Theatre Professional and Community Organizer
Steve Quester, UFT Member
Malika Rushdan; Consultant & Artist: Modern Age Art
Rev. Charles H. Straut, Jr., DMin, Member, KGIA Advisory Committee
Eileen B. Weiss, Managing Director, Same Difference Interfaith Alliance

www.awaam.org

Posted by Konrad at 06:00 PM | Permalink

from Desis Rising Up and Moving:

Salaam,

it is with great joy, and much praises to the Most High and to all those who supported, that I share this news....

The Siraj Family, members of DRUM-Desis Rising Up and Moving celebrate….

VICTORY FOR A MUSLIM FAMILY TARGETED BY HOMELAND SECURITY as father is RELEASED from Detention!! THE FIGHT FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CONTINUES…

Another chapter in a nightmare that has torn up a loving Muslim family caught up in the U.S. "War on Terror" brings a VICTORY. With their entire family detained by the US government in various facilities, the father of the Siraj family was released last week. The entire Siraj family was arrested in January---just hours after their 24 year old son, Matin, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for false terrorism charges (based on an NYPD-paid informant), Matin's mother, father and sister were violently arrested in their homes by more than a dozen ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers of the Dept. of Homeland Security. The arrest and detention of the entire family was a clear intimidation tactic to silence a family speaking out against the US War on Terror's criminalization of South Asian, Muslim and Arab communities.

2 weeks after the family's detention, buoyed by community organizing by DRUM and countless supporters in solidarity with the family (including hundreds of letters of support to ICE!), the mother and sister were released, albeit on $35,000 bond. The community has continued to support and organize in support of the family and last week, the father was finally released, after languishing in jail for 6 months.

Mr. Siraj, an elderly man with several medical conditions including a hearing impairment, was released under an intensive governmental supervision unofficially known as the ankle bracelet program (involving electronic surveillance); curfew/nighttime house arrest; and parole-style regular check-ins . While Mr. Siraj will continue to live under close watch though he poses no threat, the family continues to face an uphill legal battle, both for their own immigration cases as well as in their son's appeal.

We know that Siraj's release, while a victory for the family and a testament to the power of organizing, also opens up a detention bed for one more and leaves behind over 20,000 of our immigrant brothers or sisters to languish in private detention centers and county jails around the country. Our work must continue…as Congress continues to propose bills that will most likely deepen the crisis for communities, particularly through increasing detention and deportation—we must keep up the fight for legalization without compromising away raids, surveillance, due process, detention and deportation.

SUPPORT THE FAMILY: The family is facing over $50,000 in legal fees; bond debt as well as trying to send their daughter to community college—financial support is desperately needed. Make checks out to: "Shaheena Parveen Siraj". Mail donations to DRUM at: P.O. Box 720187, Jackson Heights, NY 11372

Again, thank you for your incredible support as we continue fighting for this family's freedom and the larger political attack on our communities.

In Solidarity, DRUM

Posted by Konrad at 09:39 AM | Permalink

Lynne Stewart has for decades been a valued member of the New York progressive community and until recently a lawyer who defended the rights of many. Targeted under some of Attorney General John Ashcroft's most blatantly unconstitutional "anti-terrorism" laws, Lynne's arrest and persecution was unfolding in the same time period as Farouk's -- yet she still took time away from her own dire situation to remain a staunch supporter and friend to him. Now convicted and disbarred, she needs and deserves the help of human rights supporters everywhere.

-- Konrad Aderer

Dear Friends,

So embarrassing to have to write a letter like this. However, the Lynne Stewart Organization (formerly the Lynne Stewart Defense Committee) is having severe financial problems. Our work which is completely outreach--using the case and its many issues, and my legal/political career to organize people and keep supporters informed in these days of mounting political discontent.

Perhaps we were too ambitious after the euphoria surrounding our sentence victory, but at this moment we are without funds to even pay Pat Levasseur for her dedicated and ongoing work.

As you may know, I am now disbarred and have not worked since 2004. Ralph and I scrape by with Social Security and direct gifts from family and supporters. (If you remember, Judge Koeltl described me as "destitute"! ! Not true, but close!!) I am able to carry out a rigorous personal appearance schedule only because the LS Organization pays the expenses. So, if I do a fund raiser for WBAI(the local Pacifica radio station) on Central Park West in New York, there is still the cost of transportation and parking etc. So far in 2007, I have been in Boston on 3 occasions, Philadelphia 4x, Washington DC, Chicago, California ,Oregon Florida, Washington and local (NY) appearances and speeches too numerous to mention. While we fund raise when appropriate, the vast majority of my speaking engagements are not compensated, because I am there for other worthy causes (Leonard Peltier, Mumia, Anti War, Immigrant Rights, Muslim Anti Discrimination, Political Prisoners, Death Penalty, etc) Not to whine, but it all costs and we find ourselves at the bottom of the proverbial financial barrel.

If you are able, please send something to get us through the next few months. We are putting together fund raisers for the fall and hope to be able to bring news of the issues on my appeal at that time. But Now is Urgent.

Please send donations to Lynne Stewart Organization, Suite 700, 350 Broadway, NY NY, 10013. You can do it by credit card via Paypal at our website (lynnestewart. org) Checks can be made out to Lynne Stewart Organization or to National Lawyers Guild Foundation, memo LS Organization for a tax deduction. All mailed to above address.

The work is there to be done and I want to do it but we need a little (pardon the analogy) gas for our engine.

Love Struggle,

Lynne Stewart

Posted by Konrad at 08:24 AM | Permalink

[from a D.R.U.M. bulletin]

Folks,

A quick update on the Siraj family's situation and some quick support actions you can take.

Background: The Siraj family has been a victim of the government's so-called "War on Terror" against Muslims, Arabs & South Asians. First, their son was targeted and entrapped by a paid ($100,000) informant to incite and then entrap Matin in a false "terrorism" case. After a trial in which there were many irregularities, Matin was found guilty and on January 8th, 2007 sentenced to 30 years in prison. As an act of intimidation, less than 12 hours after the sentencing, the Siraj family home was invaded by more than 15 ICE officers and the father, mother and sister of Matin were dragged away to an immigration detention center. 2 weeks later, after community pressure and a campaign & rally organized by DRUM, the mother and daughter were released, but on an outrageous $35,000 bond.

The father, 3 months later, still remains in prison, while the son has been moved to a jail in Indiana. As this government-created nightmare continues, the mother and daughter are fighting for the freedom of their brother/son and father and speaking out against the injustices against their family. More background at www.drumnation.org

Some actions that you can take to support this family:

The father, Siraj Rehman, still remains in detention at Elizabeth Detention Center, having been held for over 3 months now. His severe health problems persist as he suffers from a severe hearing disability, arthritis, breathing problems, depression, and a history of hernias. His detainment has further exacerbated the problems. His file is scheduled to be reviewed for consideration of release on April 19th by ICE. We are requesting another round of support letters to be MAILED IMMEDIATELY to the address indicated in the sample letter included/attached below. Please respond ASAP if you can so they reach ICE in time! **Organizational letterhead is best if you're affiliated, but your personal name and address is fine, too.**

The family is in desperate financial circumstances and needs support for basic survival, attorney's fees, and exorbitant bond of $35,000 they had to pay. Please donate what you can. Your donations are tax-deductible. Please make checks out to:

DRUM, with "Siraj Family Support Fund" in the memo line.

MAIL to:
DRUM
PO Box 720187
Jackson Heights, NY 11372

The son, Matin Siraj, has been moved out of NY, 800 miles away to the Terre Haute Federal Correctional Institution in Indiana. This facility has received some minor media coverage for the fact that it is instituting a policy of segregating Muslim and Arab prisoners into a special Communications Management Unit whereby the freedoms and communications of the prisoners in the unit are being severely restricted and closely monitored. These policies raise several civil rights, racial profiling, prisoner rights, and procedural issues, all within the context of increasing repressive measures by this government in its so-called "War on Terror."

On a practical level, this has meant that the family is unable to visit Matin due to the financial and logistical obstacles posed by the distance and the "special" procedures for visitation. It has also limited the amount of phone calls Matin is allowed to make to his family, who he may speak to, and the language in which the calls are conducted. For more information:

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Documents_show_new_secretive_new_US_0216.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/24/AR2007022401231.html

Again, thank you for your incredible support as we continue fighting for this family's freedom and the larger political attack on our communities. For more information, or an attachment of the letter, please check at DRUM's website. (http://www.drumnation.org ). For more information please contact Fahd Ahmed at fahd@drumnation.org.

Sample letter available at: http://www.drumnation.org/resources/RehmanLetter.doc

Or select & paste the text below:

April 10, 2007

Deportation Officer Keith Cozine
US Dept of Homeland Security
Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Elizabeth Detention Center
625 Evans Street , Room 148A
Elizabeth, NJ

Dear Officer Cozine,

RE: Release from Detention of Siraj Abdul Rehman

I am writing to support the immediate release of Siraj Abdul Rehman who has been held at Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey since Tuesday, January 9, 2007. I fully support his immediate release on recognizance or a reasonable bond and understand that his case is being administratively reviewed by your office.

Mr. Rehman is a deeply loved member of a peace-loving family that has worked hard in this country for several years since escaping persecution in Pakistan. Mr. Rehman is hard-working, cares deeply about civic and family matters, has no criminal record, and is simply looking to live peacefully with his family intact. Under no circumstances does Mr. Rehman represent a flight risk for several reasons; the family is deeply rooted in New York's South Asian community and is absolutely committed to staying in this country in order to seek justice in their son's criminal case as well as to apply for asylum. In no way does the family pose a flight risk due to their deep commitments, obligations, and solid community roots to community organizations and religious institutions. As such, Mr. Rehman should be released on recognizance or a reasonable bond as he poses no threat to society, is not a flight risk because he intends to pursue an appeal in his son's case, and is deeply rooted within the community.

For a father that has already lost his son to imprisonment, Mr. Rehman's spirit and health is on the verge of breaking due to detention. If continuously detained, Mr. Rehman will be prevented from a fair opportunity to follow through on appealing for justice for his son's case as well as being separated from his wife and daughter who are in desperate financial and emotional straits. As you may know, Mr. Rehman's suffers from disabling health problems ranging from a severe hearing disability to chronic breathing problems, depression, severe arthritis and a history of hernias.

Out of respect of civil rights and due process, as Mr. Rehman's entire family was detained on Tuesday January 9th, I am concerned that the Siraj family was indiscriminately chosen for arrest due to the alleged charges of terrorism against their young son, Siraj Matin. Approximately 12 hours after receiving the devastating news of an indiscriminate and lengthy sentence for their son, they were arrested for relatively minor immigration violations that do not necessitate detention. Due to countless legal and constitutional irregularities connected to their son's case, the family has overwhelming community support, and the family should not be punished through detention for pursuing justice for their son. If deported, a young son will be left to perish in prison and the lives of an entire, peace-loving family will be ruined. I respectfully request that ICE exercises compassion and justice for Mr. Rehman in granting release.

Sincerely,

[name, address, organization, if applicable]

Posted by Konrad at 05:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

PLEASE FORWARD FAR & WIDE!
DIFFUSEZ SVP!

(Français ci-dessous)

STATELESS & DEPORTED....

Bi-Weekly Picket in Solidarity with Palestinian Refugees Facing Deportation

THURSDAY MARCH 29th, 4 pm -> 6 pm
Citizenship & Immigration Canada
1010 St. Antoine W. [corner of Peel]
[metro Bonaventure]

REFUGEE CAMPS ARE NO ONE'S HOME!
STOP THE DEPORTATIONS OF STATELESS PALESTINIAN REFUGEES!

After more than FIVE YEARS of organizing and fighting back, hundreds of Palestinian refugees in Montreal and across Canada continue to face imminent deportation to the Occupied Territories and to the refugee camps of Lebanon.

Based on this continued and urgent situation, the Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees calls on supporters to participate in the re-launch of bi-weekly solidarity pickets, in front of Immigration Canada, to demand:

- An END TO THE DEPORTATIONS, and
- An IMMEDIATE REGULARIZATION of all Palestinian refugees in Canada.

Over the past few months, integral members of the Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees have received final rejections of their cases and await deportation dates back to the Occupied Territories and to the refugee camps in Lebanon.

An elderly Palestinian couple are also fighting against their deportation back to the refugee camp of Sabra in Lebanon, where Farouk Za'atar has lived since he was forced to flee Palestine as a child in 1948. The elderly couple will be forcibly separated from their three children and five grandchildren in Montreal, all of whom are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Once again, the Coalition is faced with fighting a situation where some family members refugee claims have been accepted, while other's have been refused. The Za'atar's son was granted refugee status in Montreal years ago, while the parents, though based on the same sequence of events, were later rejected by a different refugee board member.

Conditions for Palestinians in both the Occupied Territories and in Lebanon are horrific and are worsening daily.

Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are systematically prevented from owning property, working in over 70 professions, receiving proper health care, and moving and traveling freely. The intensified mistreatment of Palestinian refugees inside the camps has left their lives in real and immediate peril.

If deported, those Palestinians who had escaped the dire situation in the Occupied Territories, would face daily terror at the hands of the Israeli state which continues to enforce a deadly and illegal military occupation. Palestinian refugees from the Occupied Territories have fled from the killings, extra-judicial assassinations, house demolitions, illegal arrests, trials without evidence, torture, land confiscation, and constant humiliations.

We must stand united, in support of the long and courageous fight against deportations waged by the Palestinian refugees in Montreal.

Your support, solidarity and participation are needed....!

REFUGEE CAMPS ARE NO ONE'S HOME! STOP THE DEPORTATIONS OF STATELESS PALESTINIAN REFUGEES!

In Solidarity.
the Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees

refugees.resist.ca / refugees@riseup.net

APATRIDES ET MENACÉS DE DÉPORTATION

Piquetage bimensuel de solidarité avec les réfugiés palestiniens menacés de déportation.

JEUDI le 29 MARS de 16 à 18 heures environ
Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada
1010, rue St-Antoine O. [coin Peel]
[métro Bonaventure]

LES CAMPS DE RÉFUGIÉS NE SONT UN FOYER POUR PERSONNE !
METTONS FIN AUX EXPULSIONS DE RÉFUGIÉS PALESTINIENS APATRIDES !

Après plus de CINQ ANS de lutte structurée, des douzaines de réfugiés palestiniens de Montréal et de partout au pays continuent d¹être menacés d¹expulsion immédiate vers les Territoires occupés et les camps de réfugiés du Liban qui existent depuis 58 ans.

Vu cette situation urgente et qui persiste, la Coalition contre la déportation des réfugiés palestiniens lance un appel aux personne qui la soutiennent pour participer au relancement des piquetages bimensuels de solidarité, devant les locaux d¹Immigration Canada, afin de demander :

- la FIN DES EXPULSIONS, et
- la RÉGULARISATION IMMÉDIATE de la situation de tous les réfugiés palestiniens au Canada.

Au cours des derniers mois, des membres à part entière de la Coalition contre la déportation des réfugiés palestiniens ont reçu des avis de rejet définitif de leur demande et attendent la date de leur expulsion vers les Territoires occupés et les camps de réfugiés du Liban.

Un couple de Palestiniens âgés lutte également contre son expulsion vers le camp de réfugiés de Sabra, au Liban, où Farouk Za'atar a vécu depuis qu¹il a été contraint de fuir la Palestine en 1948 alors qu¹il était enfant. Ce couple âgé sera séparé de force de ses trois enfants et de ses cinq petits-enfants qui sont tous citoyens canadiens ou résidents permanents et vivent à Montréal. Une fois encore, la Coalition se trouve aux prises avec un cas dans lequel les demandes de statut de réfugié de certains membres de la famille ont été acceptées, tandis que d¹autres ont été rejetées. Le fils des Za'atar a obtenu le statut de réfugié il y a des années à Montréal, tandis que ses parents, bien qu¹ayant vécu les mêmes événements, ont vu leur demande rejetée ultérieurement par un autre membre de la Commission de l¹immigration et du statut de réfugié du Canada.

Les réfugiés palestiniens au Liban se voient systématiquement refusés de détenir une propriété, d'exercer plus de 70 professions, de recevoir des services de santé adéquats, de se déplacer et de voyager librement. Les mauvais traitements des Palestiniens à l'intérieur des camps se sont accrus, mettant en danger immédiat et réel la vie de ces personnes.

Les Palestiniens qui ont échappé à la situation désastreuse qui règne dans les Territoires occupés, sont soumis à la terreur quotidienne que leur fait subir Israël, qui continue d¹imposer une occupation militaire illégale et meurtrière. Les réfugiés palestiniens des Territoires occupés ont fui les tueries, les assassinats extrajudiciaires, les démolitions de maisons, les arrestations illégales, les procès sans preuve, la torture, la confiscation de leurs terres et les humiliations continuelles.

Nous devons rester unis pour soutenir la longue et courageuse lutte des réfugiés palestiniens de Montréal contre les expulsions.

Nous avons besoin de votre soutien, de votre solidarité et de votre participation !

LES CAMPS DE RÉFUGIÉS NE SONT UN FOYER POUR PERSONNE ! METTONS FIN AUX EXPULSIONS DE RÉFUGIÉS PALESTINIENS APATRIDES !

Solidairement,
La Coalition contre la déportation des réfugiés palestiniens
refugees.resist.ca / refugees@riseup.net

Posted by Konrad at 10:53 AM | Permalink

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, calls on all people of conscience to demand that Dr. Sami Al-Arian is immediately freed from his political imprisonment. Dr. Al-Arian is a Palestinian former University of Florida professor who is currently on his 58th day of a water-only hunger strike. He is protesting his maltreatment by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) which violated an earlier plea agreement that absolved Dr. Al-Arian from any further cooperation with the government. According to his lawyer, the DOJ wanted Dr. Al-Arian to testify before a grand jury in Virginia. When he refused, citing his plea agreement, he was sentenced up to 18 months in jail.

Dr. Al-Arian is currently being held at a medical facility in North Carolina. Family members who recently visited him reported that he had lost 53 pounds, equivalent to more than 25 percent of his body weight. He is no longer able to walk or stand on his own.

More information on Dr. Al-Arian's ordeal can be found in the transcript of a recent interview with his wife, Nahla Al-Arian. See: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/03/16/1410255

ACTION

We ask all people of conscience to demand the immediate release and end to Dr. Al- Arian's suffering.

Call, Email and Write:

1- 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
Email: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov

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

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

4- Honorable Judge Gerald Lee
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
401 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA 22314

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
PO Box 131352
Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA
Tel: 760-685-3243
Fax: 360-933-3568
E-mail: info@al-awda.org
http://www.al-awda.org/

New Jersey Solidarity - Activists for the Liberation of Palestine
http://www.newjerseysolidarity.org/
info@newjerseysolidarity.org
973-954-2521

Generation After Generation Until Total Liberation - FREE PALESTINE!

Don't forget to sign the Rutgers University Divest from israeli Apartheid Petition at: http://www.rutgersdivest.org

NJSolidarity-announcements is a moderated, low volume announcements list used to inform the community of upcoming events sponsored by New Jersey Solidarity -- Activists for the Liberation of Palestine, as well as events sponsored by other individuals and organizations participating in the struggle against all forms of oppression.

To subscribe, visit http://groups.google.com/group/njsolidarity-announcements/boxsubscribe

Posted by Konrad at 07:55 PM | Permalink

NYC, 7/21: Remembering Farouk

[Please distribute widely. Note that WBAI will have a special on the Middle on Monday, 7/17/06, 7 pm to midnight; there will be a segment with Sharin Chiorazzo at 11 pm.]

"،Farouk Vive! ،La Lucha Sigue!"
Vigil Commemorating the Life of Farouk Abdel-Muhti

Friday, July 21, 2006, noon to 1 PM

At the Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza
Broadway at Worth Street
(Take the 4/5/6 or N/R to City Hall, or the A/C/E to Chambers St)

New York-based Palestinian activist Farouk Abdel-Muhti died suddenly of a heart attack on July 21, 2004, three weeks before his 57th birthday and 100 days after he was released from immigration detention. Federal agents and New York City police arrested Farouk in April 2002, just as he was beginning to work as a producer of segments on Palestine at New York's WBAI-FM. The US government then held him in a series of county and federal facilities for nearly two years--in clear violation of his constitutional rights--and refused to release him until ordered to do so by a federal district judge.

Now, as Israeli renews its assaults against Gaza and Lebanon, we need to remember Farouk's lifelong struggle for peace with justice and for the rights of Palestinians, of immigrants and of workers everywhere. Join us in front of the Federal Building, where we vigiled for Farouk's release each Friday at noon, to rededicate ourselves to carrying on his work.

Remember Farouk, and call for a free Palestine. Demand an end to US-backed Israeli violence in Gaza & Lebanon. ،Hasta la victoria siempre!

Speakers to be announced. For more information and to endorse: call 212-674-9499 or email freefarouk@yahoo.com

=========================================================
Committee for the Release of Farouk Abdel-Muhti
PO Box 20587, Tompkins Square Station, New York, NY 10009
Phone: 212-674-9499 * Email freefarouk@yahoo.com
Website: freefarouk.netfirms.com
=========================================================

Posted by Konrad at 12:00 PM | Permalink

1) May 1: Great American Boycott 2006 in New York City (4pm rally/march)
Primero de Mayo: Gran Paro Americano 2006 en Nueva York (4pm mitin/marcha)
2) Actions at 12:16pm in Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island
[Acciones a las 12:16pm en los cinco boros de Nueva York]
3) ACTION ALERT: On May 1st, Tell Congress to Stop Deportation Now!
4) Useful resources for workers attending protests / Materiales utiles
(incluso en espan~ol) para los trabajadores que asisten a las protestas

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) May 1: Great American Boycott 2006 in New York City (4pm rally/march)
Primero de Mayo: Gran Paro Americano 2006 en Nueva York (4pm mitin/marcha)

[texto en español sigue al ingles]

In solidarity with the call for a Great American Boycott 2006
NO WORK, NO SCHOOL, NO SALES, AND NO BUYING
on Monday, May 1 across the country

Immigrant Rights
Are Workers Rights
FULL RIGHTS FOR ALL WORKERS

MAY 1 Rally & March
4 pm Union Square Park
14th St. & Broadway
(take #4, 5, 6, R, N, L to Union Square or F, 1, 2, 3 to 14th Street)

NO TO HR 4437
- Yes to Immediate Amnesty
- Yes to Family Unity
- No to Criminalization
- No Border Fences and Racism
- No Increased Enforcement

Reclaim May Day!

To endorse and find more information locally in NY: www.may1.info and
nationally: www.NoHR4437.org

Leaflets available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Bengali, Creole and
Russian at http://www.may1.info/

MAY 1 COALITION c/o TONC, 39 W. 14 St.,#206, NY, NY 10011 212-633-6646
or c/o Teamsters Local 808, 22-43 Jackson Ave., LIC, NY 11101 718-389-1900

***

Solidaridad con el llamado al Gran Paro Americano 2006:
NI TRABAJO, NI ESCUELA, NI VENTAS, NI COMPRAS
en todo el país el 1º de Mayo

¡Los Derechos de l@s Inmigrantes Son Derechos de l@s Obrer@s!
DERECHOS PLENOS PARA TOD@S L@S OBRER@S

1º de MAYO Mitin & Marcha
4 pm en el Union Square Park
calle 14 y Broadway
(tome el tren #4, 5, 6, R, N, L hasta el Union Square
o el F, 1, 2, 3 hasta la calle 14)

NO A L A HR 4437
- Sí a la Amnistía Inmediata
- Sí a Familias Unidas
- No Murallas y No al Racismo
- No a la Criminalización
- No Aumento de Patrulla Fronteriza

¡Recobremos el 1° de mayo!

Para endosar y adquirir más información en la localidad de NY visite a
www.1mayo.info; nacional www.NoHR4437.org

Volantes disponibles en ingles, español, chino, arabe, bengali, creol y ruso al
http://www.may1.info/

COALICIÓN 1º DE MAYO c/o TONC, 39 W. 14 St.,#206, NY, NY 10011 212-633-6646
o c/o Teamsters Local 808, 22-43 Jackson Ave., LIC, NY 11101 718-389-1900

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Actions at 12:16pm in Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island
[Acciones a las 12:16pm en los cinco boros de Nueva York--espan~ol abajo]

Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 14:21:01 -0400
From: Gouri Sadhwani
Subject: May 1st New York Action Flyers

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

MAY 1, 2006 12:16PM*

Come out on our National Day of Labor at 12:16pm and form a HUMAN CHAIN in
an expression of solidarity for immigrant rights. New York's diverse and
vibrant immigrant commercial centers are vital to the economy of New York
City and by closing for 15 minutes we will join the nation in highlighting
the many ways in which immigrant workers and businesses contribute to and
stimulate our economy. ALL members of the community are encouraged to join
in this peaceful expression of solidarity!

Human Chain Locations and Contact info:

Bronx
NYCPP, Sussie Lozada, 212-388-2149

Brooklyn
Fifth Avenue Committee, Artemio Guerra, 718-930-9068
Council of Peoples Organization, Mohammed Razvi, 718-434-3266

Manhattan
Washington Heights: NYCPP, Laura Espinosa, 212-388-3296 and La Aurora,
Rathamés Perez, 718-543-0410

Battery Park: Make the Road by Walking, 718-418-7690

Chinatown: Chinese Progressive Association, Mae Lee, 212-274-1891

Queens
NYCPP, Zahida Pirani, 212-388-2119 and LAIC, Ana Maria Archila, 718-565-8500

Staten Island
El Centro de Hospitalidad, Gonzalo Mercado, 646-772-0096 and Rev. Terry
Troia, 646-523-7274

*On 12/16/05, the House of Representative passed H.R. 4437, the draconian
anti-immigrant bill that sparked the massive rallies in support of immigrant
rights, including the April 10th NYC rally.

WEAR WHITE!

***

DIA NACIONAL DE ACCIÓN POR LOS DERECHOS DE LOS INMIGRANTES

PRIMERO DE MAYO, 2006 12:16PM*

A las 12:16pm del 1° de Mayo, acompáñenos a formar una CADENA HUMANA en
expresión de solidaridad a los derechos de los inmigrantes. La vitalidad del
centros comercial de inmigrantes es vital para la economía de la cuidad de Nueva
York y cerrando por 15 minutos nos uniremos con la nación para reflejar de
varias maneras que los trabajadores contribuyen y estimulan nuestra economía.
Todos los miembros de la comunidad unirán en esta expresión pacífica de
solidaridad!

Lugar y Contactos: Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island.

Bronx
NYCPP, Sussie Lozada, 212-388-2149

Brooklyn
Fifth Avenue Committee, Artemio Guerra, 718-930-9068
Council of Peoples Organization, Mohammed Razvi, 718.434.3266

Manhattan
Washington Heights: NYCPP, Laura Espinosa, 212-388-3296 y La Aurora,
Radhamés Perez, 718-543-0410
Battery Park: Make the Road by Walking, 718-418-7690
Chinatown: Chinese Progressive Association, Mae Lee, 212.274.1891

Queens
NYCPP, Zahida Pirani, 212-388-2119 y LAIC, Ana Maria Archila, 718.565.8500

Staten Island
El Centro de Hospitalidad, Gonzalo Mercado, 646-772-0096 y Rev. Terry
Troia, 646-523-7274

*El 16 de diciembre, la Cámara de Representantes pasó H.R. 4437, la ley
draconiana anti-inmigrante que inició las marchas masivas apoyando a los
derechos de inmigrantes, incluyendo la del 10 de Abril en NYC.

VISTASE DE BLANCO!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) ACTION ALERT: On May 1st, Tell Congress to Stop Deportation Now!

Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 16:40:55 -0400
From: Aarti Shahani

ACTION ALERT: On May 1st, Tell Congress to Stop Deportation Now!

On May 1st, immigrants around the country will mobilize and protest and
strike for our rights. While most lawmakers, media, immigrants and
restrictionists have focused on legalization and guest worker programs
for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, few
have questioned the harsh deportation measures in the Senate and House
proposed bills. The "best" and "worst" bills contain hidden provisions
that would:

* Deport long-term residents for increasingly minor crimes, even when
they are green card holders, U.S. veterans, or the parents of
American-born children
* Expand immigration detention facilities, using domestic military bases
and for-profit prison facilities
* Overturn Supreme Court rulings and legalize the indefinite detention
of non-citizens
* Turn local and state police into immigration agents
* Erect a massive border fence and further militarize our border communities
* Enable Homeland Security agents to expel suspected foreigners
indiscriminately
* Create a national identification system for all workers.

If passed, Congress would be making a bad situation worse. American
immigration laws are already harsh, resulting in the destruction of
immigrant families. Since Congress made deportation and detention
mandatory minimums in 1996, 1.4 million people have been exiled from the
United States. Immigrants have become the fastest-growing segment of our
prison population. Families and taxpayers are paying dearly, as the
Department of Homeland Security lines the pockets of for-profit prisons.
For more information, see the "Family Values" backgrounder and Detention
& Deportation factsheet
(http://familiesforfreedom.org/downloads/April24NationwideFamilies.pdf)

Call House & Senate offices
(Contact info at Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121, or visit
http://capwiz.com/adc/dbq/officials/)

Tell your elected officials:

"I demand that you say no to every deportation provision in proposed
House and Senate immigration bills. US deportation laws are already
harsh. Homeland Security does not need additional power. We need
Congress to keep our families together, and our communities strong.
Please repeal mandatory detention and deportation laws; stop indefinite
detention of immigrants; stop making deportation a surprise punishment;
uphold fair prison standards for immigrant prisoners and provide people
facing exile with counsel; end the retroactive application of
deportation laws; and stop local police and other agencies from being
federal immigration agents."

Aarti Shahani
Families for Freedom
25 Chapel St, #703
Brooklyn NY 11201
tel: 718.858.9658 x204
fax: 800.895.4454
aarti@familiesforfreedom.org
www.familiesforfreedom.org

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
4) Useful resources for workers attending protests / Materiales utiles
(incluso en espan~ol) para los trabajadores que asisten a las protestas

Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2006 13:47:37 EDT
From: CLINICSF@aol.com

In light of the upcoming May 1st protest events, as well as recent raids, you
might find the following links to resources helpful. They were prepared by
the Chicago Workers' Collaborative and the Workers' Defense Committee of the
March 10th Movement, AILA, ACLU, NILC, and others.

* Sample petition to employers, Chicago Workers' Collaborative and Interfaith
Worker Justice

English
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/NILC/images/Employee_petition_to_employer_041706.doc
Spanish
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/NILC/images/Carta%20a%20Empleadores.doc

Sample Letter to Employer, Letter to Tandum Staffing
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/NILC/images/Tandem_Staffing_letter.pdf
from the Chicago Workers' Collaborative

Immigration Protests: What Every Worker Should Know, National Immigration Law
Center, American Civil Liberties Union Immigrant Rights Project, and the
National Employment Law Project (NELP)
English http://www.nilc.org/ce/nilc/protests_what_every_worker_should_know.pdf
Spanish
http://www.nilc.org/ce/nilc/protests_what_every_worker_should_know_sp.pdf

Know Your Rights Alerts, National Immigration Law Center. See
http://www.nilc.org/ce/ceindex.htm

Know Your Rights - Can an Employer Fire an Employee Because the Employee
Participated in an Immigration Rally? American Immigration Lawyers Association
and the law firm of Dorsey and Whitney, LLP. See
http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=19203

Know Your Rights Pamphlets, National Lawyers Guild and American Civil
Liberties Union Immigrant Rights Project. See
http://www.nlg.org/resources/know_your_rights.htm

Know Your Rights if You Have Been Arrested or Detained by the U.S. Government,
CASA of Maryland.
English - http://www.immigrantrights.org/CASAofMaryland.pdf
Spanish - http://www.immigrantrights.org/CASAdeMarylandDerechos.pdf

Interfaith Worker Justice Toolkit for Workers who are fired
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/NILC/images/Toolkit_for_Workers_who_are_fired.pdf

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
END FORWARDED MESSAGE(S) / FIN DE MENSAJE(S) REENVIADO(S)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This message distributed by / Este mensaje distribuido por:
Coalition for the Human Rights of Immigrants (CHRI)
Coalicion para los Derechos Humanos de los Inmigrantes
339 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012 tel 212-254-2591 / 888-575-8242
fax 212-674-9139 email http://www.itapnet.org/chri

-->> To get on the CHRI email list (average 4-5 messages a week), sign up
through the website at http://www.itapnet.org/chri -or- to be added to or
removed from the list write to chri@itapnet.org.

-->> Para recibir nuestros mensajes por email (promedio de 4 a 5 mensajes
por semana), inscribase en nuestro sitio, http://www.itapnet.org/chri, o,
para unirse a o quitarse de la lista, escribanos al chri@itapnet.org.

Posted by Konrad at 04:00 PM | Permalink

There is now pending before Congress a very wrongheaded and destructive bill which panders to anti-immigrant hostility and fear by further criminalizing out-of-status immigrants. The bill offers no rational solution to the fact that there are already 11 million "illegal" immigrants in the U.S.

Read an analysis of this bill, H.R. 4437.

Here's the urgent action I received from Desis Rising Up and Moving and Coalition for the Human Rights of Immigrants:

Folks,

This is a critical period of time as several anti-immigrant bills are being
considered in Congress (details below).

Take a second to (1) forward info about this online petition to your
contacts and email lists, (2) post a link to the petition on any websites
you have access to, and (3) sign the petition!

"Oppose anti-immigrant H.R. 4437 and Pass a Just Legalization Bill!"
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/HR4437/
Immigrant Communities in Action

Posted by Konrad at 09:28 AM | Permalink

RAMADAN FAST -- SPECIAL VIGIL IN SOLIDARITY WITH HUNGER STRIKERS

NOVEMBER 1st VIGIL 1pm
Department of Justice

26 Federal Plaza New York, NY.

(there will also be an evening event/IFTAR 4-6 pm)

The Shame and Horror of Guantánamo is known around the world. Since early 2002, hundreds of men have waged desperate hunger strikes to protest their detention without trial. The current hunger strike began in August 2005 with over half of the estimated 540 prisoners participating. Many are now prepared to die if they do not receive a fair hearing or humane treatment. Mnay are also being brutally forcefed by riot guards.

Has the community forgotten these men? It is time WE do something.

PLEASE join the Center for Constitutional Rights & the New York Coalition of Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Muslim and Other Religious Communities in a Fast for Justice on November 1, 2005 to show your solidarity. Will we accept this dirty secret forever?
Does this really make American safe?

To sign up for the fast & for more information, go to our website; CCR-NY.ORG or call 212 614 6477;
Adem Carroll ICNA Relief 917 602 4450
Please call to confirm.

Posted by Konrad at 01:00 PM | Permalink

Friday, August 5
5 PM-11PM
Brecht Forum
451 West Street, NYC
(on the West Side Highway
between Bank & Bethune Streets)
see bottom of entry for transit info

For those of you not familiar with the recent case of two teenage girls being detained and interrogated on unsubstantiated allegations of terrorism, read this entry.

Next Friday I'll have the privilege of speaking on a panel about how artists and activists are responding to these kinds of abuses, at a fundraiser for the two girls and their families.

-- Konrad

AMERICA'S CIVIL LIBERTIES CRISIS : Respond with Music and Solidarity!
DISAPPEARED IN AMERICA Exhibition

FUNDRAISER FOR TWO TEENAGERS UNJUSTLY DETAINED
& accused of being a threat to national security
Tashnuba Hyder (Bangladesh): detained and deported with family
Adama Bah (Guinea): detained and eventually released, all charges dropped

5 PM: DISAPPEARED IN AMERICA exhibition (VISIBLE Collective)
7 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION on Arts & Activism in Age of Crisis
8 PM: FUNDRAISER with performances
Performers :
*Bengali musicians
*Guinean musicians
*Spoken word artists

5-7 PM: Opening of DISAPPEARED IN AMERICA exhibit @ Brecht Forum

Brief remarks by members of VISIBLE Collective

7-8 PM: Panel Discussion: Artists & Activists respond to the Civil Liberties crisis

Moderator: Naeem Mohaiemen, VISIBLE Collective

Panelists:
Avideh Moussavian, New York Immigrant Coalition
Aziz Huq, NYU Brennan Center
Fariba Alam (BANGLA EAST SIDE)
Konrad Aderer (RISING UP: THE ALAMS, FAROUK ABDEL-MUHTI: POLITICAL PRISONER)
Film Clips:
RISING UP: THE ALAMS, BANGLA EAST SIDE, DISAPPEARED
8-11PM: Fundraiser for Tashnuba Hyder and Adama Bah
*Family and friends of Tashnuba & Adama talk about the case

Followed by a Multicultural Extravaganza
Performers including:
*Bengali musicians—Bangladeshi Institute of performing Arts
*Guinean musicians—Ahmadou Bah& Others
Classical Musicians: Including pianist tomoya kano
Classical Indian Dance: Samita of KAASH
*Spoken word artists, *Others TBA; *Film Clips
__________________________________________________

DIRECTIONS:
A, C, E or L to 14th Street & 8th Ave, walk down 8th Ave. to Bethune, turn right, walk west to the River, turn left

1, 2, 3 or 9 to 14th Street & 7th Ave, get off at south end of station, walk west on 12th Street to 8th Ave. left to Bethune, turn right, walk west to the River, turn left.

PATH Train to Christopher Street north on Greenwich St to Bank Street, left to the river.

#11 or #20 Bus to Abingdon Square, west on Bethune

#14A or #14D Bus to 8th Ave & 14th Street, walk down 8th Ave. and west on Bethune to the river

#8 Bus to 10th & West Streets for more info email this email address! Or 917 602 4450 ; all proceeds will be divided by the two families!

Donations are tax exempt:
Emergency Families Fund / CAIR
c/o 9-11 relief program / Adem Carroll
166-26 89th Avenue
Jamaica, NY, 11432
www.cair-ny.org

Posted by Konrad at 06:00 PM | Permalink

Dear Friend,

It's time to shut down the prison camp at Guantánamo Bay once and for all. Guantánamo has become a symbol world-wide of the Bush Administration's arrogant disregard for the most basic of human rights. In a hard-hitting editorial on Sunday, June 5, The New York Times wrote: "The best thing Washington can now do about this national shame is to shut it down. It is a propaganda gift to America's enemies; an embarrassment to our allies; a damaging repudiation of the American justice system; and a highly effective recruiting tool for Islamic radicals, including future terrorists."*

Please write your representatives in Congress and the members of the Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations committees and tell them to shut down Guantánamo and either try the remaining 540 detainees in a court of law or release them.

The Center for Constitutional Rights has led the fight against the detentions at Guantánamo Bay. From the day the government made clear they planned to ship prisoners there to keep them beyond the reach of law, indefinitely, and without any chance to challenge their detention or know the charges against them, CCR has fought for the detainees to have their day in court. CCR won the fight in the Supreme Court one year ago and is leading a team of more than 350 attorneys from around the country representing the detainees in the courts, but the Bush Administration has defied the ruling of the highest court in the land and stonewalled detainees' access to the courts and to counsel. We urgently need your help. Please contact your representatives in Congress and tell them the time has come to shut down the Guantánamo prison camp once and for all. And please help if you can with a donation to help us keep at this critical fight: CCR does cutting edge work, and we can't do it without you.

In response to increasing documentation of abuse and the now admitted intentional desecration of the Koran, Senator Arlen Spector (R-Pennsylvania) will be holding hearings in June on the treatment of the detainees, and Senator Joseph Biden, (D-Delaware), who has just called for Guantánamo to be shut down, has proposed an independent commission to investigate the situation. CCR has long called for an independent special prosecutor with the power to prosecute the human rights abuses being committed in our name as Americans. And now we're calling for the immediate closing of the Guantánamo prison camp.

Yours,
Ron Daniels and Michael Ratner Executive Director and President, The Center for Constitutional Rights

To find out more about Guantánamo and CCR's other cases go to www.ccr-ny.org
To be removed from CCR's action alert list reply with "remove me" in the subject line

*read the full text of the Times editorial here:

Posted by Konrad at 02:28 PM | Permalink

Appeal from CAIR-NY email bulletin

As you may have read recently in the New York Times and a number of other publications, two Muslim teenage girls have been detained. One is from Guinea, and the other is from Bangladesh. The government is using immigration law to jail these 16 year olds without charging them with a crime, holding secret proceedings against them without giving them access to the evidence that is being used against them, and slandering them in the media as "suicide bombers" without providing proof.

In fact, an FBI official told The New York Daily News, "Nobody here believes they are wanna-be suicide bombers." Another official at the Department of Homeland Security commented, "We're not spun up about this case." So why, then, are these young women in jail, cut off from their families? Why are their lives being ruined? This is an insane injustice.

Please open your hearts to both families. The family of A., the young Guinean woman, is in urgent need, and owes money to their lawyer. They have also lost their income, as the father has also been detained on immigration violations. As we learn more details about her situation, we may find they have other needs as well.

The young Bangladeshi woman, T., and her loved ones also face an enormous challenge. Her family needs to raise approximately $10,000 in the next three months just to get by. There are three children. The vast majority of the money would go towards housing, because the family has had to give up their apartment out of fear of surveillance or other threats to their safety. The remainder of expenses are for food, transportation and any legal expenses (although the lawyer is currently doing the case for free). Visits to the lawyer and to the detention center take 3 hours each way and cost money. It may also be necessary to fundraise for airline tickets for some family members in the future. There's enough money available right now from various sources to cover them for a few days, but their situation could become dire very soon.

We haven't yet factored in bond money for either young woman; if they are granted bond, it could tremendously increase the families' respective financial burdens. Given everything these two families are going through with their daughters' jailing, isolation, and the media smear campaign by the government, those of us outside the direct situation need to help out. This is a horrifying crisis for both families.

CAIR-NY, a leading Islamic civil liberties organization that is involved in helping these two families and many others, has an Emergency Family Fund. To contribute to the fund, you can mail checks written to:

Emergency Family Fund / CAIR NY
C/o 9-11 relief program / Adem Carroll, ICNA
166-26 89th Avenue
Jamaica, NY, 11432
Donations are tax exempt

If you would like to direct your contribution to A and T and their families, please write that on your check. Otherwise, surplus donations to the fund will be used for the Emergency Family Fund for detainee families more generally. For more information, please contact Brother Adem at 718-658-7028 or visit Detention, the blog.

Posted by Konrad at 11:02 AM | Permalink

This is an incident which has galvanized community organizations here in NY.

The arrests continue the law enforcement tactic we've seen used on thousands of Muslim immigrants post-9/11 – the use of immigration law as a pretext for arresting people. The FBI then interrogates the suspects about terrorism without the presence of a lawyer, without having to name any evidence or charge. As immigration law expert Cyrus Mehta has said, this method of arresting people on suspicion, then deciding how or whether to charge them, "turns our Consititution on its head."

Holding a teenage girl prisoner so she can be questioned, with no one to monitor the situation, is an extreme tactic. The FBI has publicly stated that there is no serious belief that these girls present a threat. If no solid grounds to interrogate these girls about terrorism surfaces, then this incident will ultimately bring shame on our government.

[ NOTE: Regular updates on the case of the two 16-year old girls are available at http://detainthis.blogspot.com ]

Here is a statement from CAIR-NY on the arrests:

CAIR-NY shares in the Muslim community’s deep concern over the recent arrest and detention of two 16-year-old Muslim girls from New York City. Despite the continuing protests by immigrant and civil rights communities following 9/11, the Federal government’s implementation of ethnic and religious profiling and its use of immigration proceedings to circumvent the constitutional protections of the criminal justice system persist.

Following 9/11, CAIR-NY and other civil rights organizations witnessed firsthand the government’s targeting of Muslim men for investigations, false accusations, detentions, and deportations. Immigrant Muslim men were singled out for Special Registration, solely on the basis of their national origins, and thousands were deported from this country as a result of this program.

Despite the vigorous surveillance and crack-down on our communities, however, the Federal government’s efforts have not resulted in any successful terrorism prosecutions, nor have they shown any evidence that these methods have made America safer for anyone.

Today, it appears that the profiling of Muslim men has grown to include Muslim women and children. In this case, two minors are being linked to terrorism based at least in part on their interest in and observance of the Islamic religion. In one of the cases, a girl was questioned by FBI agents, at one point posing as youth counselors, without the advice or presence of an attorney.

Neither of the girls has been formally charged with any crime, but both have been detained indefinitely in facilities far away from their homes and families. Their hearings are held in secret. Any substantive evidence against them has yet to be revealed.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the conditions in the girls’ detention facility, including reports that their ability to observe religious practices has been restricted. Given the Federal government’s previous track record and manner in which these two cases have been handled thus far, CAIR-NY and the Muslim community are justifiably outraged at the government’s continuing disregard for the civil rights of American Muslims.

As a community-based civil rights organization, we sincerely hope that these cases do not develop into a new example of baseless religious profiling and unfair targeting of American Muslims, both of which have become disturbingly frequent in post-9/11 America. Cases involving minors necessarily require heightened attention to their treatment during detention, their access to legal advice and social support services, and the need to come to a swift and just conclusion. CAIR-NY calls upon all community organizations and elected officials to join us in closely monitoring the legal and humanitarian issues in both cases to see that justice is done for these young girls.

If you'd like to be apprised of the grassroots efforts supporting the girls and their families, please contact CAIR-NY.

Continue reading "Two 16-year-old Immigrant Girls Arrested as Terrorist Threats" »

Posted by Konrad at 12:59 PM | Permalink

Hello friends,

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) connected to the Department of
Homeland Security is currently conducting an investigation of abuses
against immigrant detainees at four county jails throughout the country.
Two of the county jails being investigated are in New Jersey -- Passaic
and Hudson.

New Jersey Civil Rights Defense Committee is providing support to the
detainees during the interview process. We are looking for people who are
willing to be witnesses to interveiws between OIG representatives and
detainees. You do not need any previous experience to be a witness.
While we are asking for general volunteers we are also specifically
soliciting help from immigration attorneys who would be willing to
volunteer to be present during the interviews.

These interviews will be conducted at Hudson County Jail beginning April
18 and at Passaic County Jail beginning in May. We will be signing people
up to go into the jail as witnesses throughout this time period. Please
contact New Jersey Civil Rights Defense Committee at
info@nj-civilrights.org to help.

New Jersey Civil Rights Defense Committee
http://www.nj-civilrights.org

Posted by Konrad at 04:40 PM | Permalink

By PAUL CHAVEZ, Associated Press Writer

Thursday, March 17, 2005

(03-17) 00:02 PST Los Angeles (AP) --

Four Iranian brothers detained for more than three years after their arrest in an FBI terrorism probe were freed after U.S. immigration authorities eased certain travel restrictions.

The Mirmehdi brothers — Mohammed, Mostafa, Mohsen and Mojtaba — had rejected a release offer last month, claiming proposed travel limits and other restrictions were unjust. The brothers were released Wednesday night after the government revised its offer and reduced the restrictions, said Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The brothers declined to sign documents outlining the conditions of their release, but they nevertheless will be bound by the modified terms, Kice said.

The brothers returned home to the San Fernando Valley and told The Associated Press that they would try to resume their careers as real estate agents.

"It was a great victory for us," Mohsen Mirmehdi said by telephone. "After 3 1/2 years of going to this court and that court and proving to them that we are innocent."

The brothers can remain in the United States although two have been ordered deported and the other pair are appealing such orders.

The brothers have been held since October 2001. Federal authorities alleged they supported a Los Angeles-based cell of the Moujahedeen Khalk, or MEK, which opposes Iran's regime and is classified by the State Department as a terrorist organization.

The brothers acknowledged attending protest events against Iran's current regime, but denied belonging to the MEK.

They never faced criminal charges. They were sent into detention to await deportation for allegedly lying in the 1990s on their applications seeking political asylum, and for their suspected ties to the MEK.

Last August, the Board of Immigration Appeals ruled evidence tying the brothers to terrorism was inconclusive. The board also upheld the decision of two immigration judges who said the Mirmehdis would be tortured or persecuted if returned to Iran. The board also agreed with the government that the brothers did not qualify for political asylum.

"One thing is not in dispute. All four men are in this country illegally," Kice said.

Final deportation orders have been issued for Mostafa Mirmehdi, 45, and Mojtaba Mirmehdi, 41, and they will be deported if a third country can be found that will accept them, Kice said.

The brothers' attorney, Marc Van Der Hout, said he doubts they will be deported.

"I don't think any other country will accept them," he said. "Another country won't welcome someone into their country that the United States has accused of being part of a terrorist organization, even though those charges are baseless."

The brothers will be allowed to travel freely within Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties, but will need permission in advance to travel outside that area, Kice said.

They also must report to immigration officials weekly by telephone and every other week in person, Kice said.

The brothers' release occurred less than two weeks after an altercation in which the Mirmehdis allege that a guard beat Mohammed Mirmehdi after he intervened in an argument between the guard and one of his brothers.

The allegation is under investigation, Kice said.

Posted by Konrad at 11:04 AM | Permalink

Action Alert: March 14, 2005

Nine Days After Assault on Detainee:

Attacker Still on Duty; Detainee Punished with Transfer, Segregation

Tell Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Stop the Cover-up!

Tell Congress: Investigate the Abuses

On March 5, 2005, at the San Pedro detention center in California, ICE agent M. Lopez laughed at and made fun of immigration detainee Abdel-Jabbar Hamdan's illness and refused to let him use the bathroom, then brutally assaulted detainee Mohammed Mirmehdi after Mohammed and his brother Mostafa questioned Lopez's treatment of Mr. Hamdan.

Nine days later, ICE officials Gloria Kee and Victor Cerda seem to have ignored the more than 100 letters, emails, faxes and phone calls they received from concerned citizens and advocacy organizations--demanding immediate medical care for Mr. Hamdan and Mohammed Mirmehdi, that Lopez be removed from duty while an investigation proceeds, and that Mr. Hamdan and all four of the Mirmehdi brothers be freed from unjust detention.

ICE spokesperson Virginia Kice claimed that Mohammed Mirmehdi hit Lopez and both men fell down and were bruised. But the ACLU visited Mohammed and stated that the marks on his body are not compatible with that story, and indicate that excessive force was used against Mohammed.

While scandals grow around torture by US officials overseas, ICE officials are attempting to cover up torture and abuse by one of their own agents in San Pedro, California:

- ICE is refusing to hand over its digital and Polaroid photographs of Mohammed Mirmehdi's injuries, and its videotape of the assault and the events leading up to it. Attorney Marc Van Der Hout, attorney for Mr. Hamdan and the Mirmehdi brothers, specifically requested copies of these materials in a March 7 letter to Gloria Kee and other officials.

- ICE has refused to provide medical care to Mohammed Mirmehdi--who is in severe pain and may have bone fractures--despite a formal request from his lawyer that a doctor be sent to see him immediately.

- ICE moved Mohammed to the Santa Ana jail as punishment following the incident and is holding him in segregation (solitary confinement) and refusing to allow him regular access to his attorneys.

- ICE has not removed agent Lopez from duty. He is still working at the San Pedro facility. Likewise, two guards employed by the private security company MVM who were present during the incident--D. Barnes and T. Logan--have not been removed from duty, even though they failed to sound an alarm during Lopez's assault and their only intervention was to try to prevent other detainees from witnessing it.

- ICE is still refusing to allow the media to do in-person interviews with Mohammed Mirmehdi (are they waiting for his visible bruises to go away?), his brothers, Mr. Hamdan, or any of the other detainees who witnessed the March 5 incident.

Contact ICE to ask: Why hasn't ICE given the lawyers a copy of the videotape and photographs? Why has Mohammed Mirmehdi not yet seen a doctor? Why is he being punished with transfer and segregation? Why hasn't Mr. Hamdan received medical treatment? Why are Mr. Hamdan and the Mirmehdi brothers still detained? Why is the media banned from interviewing them in person?

Gloria Kee, field operations director of ICE Detention and Removal Office in Los Angeles, 606 South Olive Street, 8th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90014; phone 213-830-7913 or 213-830-7970; fax 213-830-7973; email gloria.kee@dhs.gov

Victor Cerda, head of ICE Detention and Removal Office in Washington, 801 "I" St., NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20536; phone 202-514-8663; fax 202-353-9435; email (c/o ICE Chief of Staff Shelly Han), shelly.han@dhs.gov

Send copies to Mr. Hamdan's support committee at mail@adclaoc.org and to the Coalition for the Human Rights of Immigrants at chri@itapnet.org

ALSO, contact your senators and representatives to urge them to ensure a thorough investigation into the March 5 assault on Mohammed Mirmehdi, and all other incidents of torture and abuse in US detention centers: call via the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or get the contact info for your representative and senators through http://www.house.gov/writerep and http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Press inquiries about the Hamdan and Mirmehdi cases can be directed to attorneys Stacy Tolchin and Marc Van Der Hout at 415-981-3000, ext. 320. Press inquiries about the Hamdan case can also be directed to Ahilan Arulanantham at the ACLU Southern California, 213-977-9500.

Mr. Hamdan's support committee can be reached through the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Los Angeles/Orange County Chapter, 714-535-1719, mail@adclaoc.org

For background on the assault, see the March 5 action alert at:
http://la.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/123418.php or http://www.lifeorliberty.org/libertyblog/archives/000078.html

and press coverage at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050310/news_1n10brothers.html http://www.grandforks.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/north ern_california/11084995.htm

This message distributed by / Este mensaje distribuido por:

Coalition for the Human Rights of Immigrants (CHRI)
Coalicion para los Derechos Humanos de los Inmigrantes
339 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012
tel 212-254-2591 / 888-575-8242 fax 212-674-9139
chri@itapnet.org http://www.itapnet.org/chri

-->> To get on the CHRI email list (average 4-5 messages a week), sign up through the website at http://www.itapnet.org/chri-or- to be added to or removed from the list write to chri@itapnet.org .

-->> Para recibir nuestros mensajes por email (promedio de 4 a 5 mensajes por semana), inscribase en nuestro sitio, http://www.itapnet.org/chri, o, para unirse a o quitarse de la lista, escribanos al chri@itapnet.org.

Posted by Konrad at 10:22 AM | Permalink

Below is a letter from an immigrant detainee from Mali who is being held in Passaic County Jail. Mr. Ba Madani, a 54 year old man with diabetes, was denied asylum and has been held in jail with a final deportation order since April 19, 2004. At his review hearings in September 2004 and January 2005 Mr. Madani was denied release on the basis that his deportation to Mali is imminent. However the Mali embassy is refusing to issue travel documents.

March 11, 2005

Today is my fourth day on hunger strike. I am not feeling well. My diabetic condition is worsening. Both my legs are numb from the heel down. Thanks God my spirit is up. I must fight for what I believe is the right thing to do. It is not my intent to fight anybody. I just want to prove to myself that I am still a human being. I believe at some point something is gonna happen. I still believe in America, land of justice and liberty for all. I am in jail because of the immigration laws. I am not a criminal and I will never be.

Please help Mr. Madani and all the other immigrant detainees. New Jersey Civil Rights Defense Committee is working with the Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security's Audit of Hudson and Passaic County Jails. The audit of Hudson will start in mid-April and the audit of Passaic will start in mid-May. Most of the detainees do not have attorneys so NJCRDC is bringing witnesses into their interviews to help protect them from retaliation from the county jails and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Please help out by becoming a witness.

Witness Training for Government Audit
March 22, 2005 at 7:30 pm
Christ Church
5 Paterson Street
New Brunswick, NJ

For more information see http://www.nj-civilrights.org or email us at info@nj-civilrights.org

Posted by Konrad at 01:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Urgent Action!
March 5, 2005
Immigration Detainees Abused in San Pedro, CA

On March 5 at the San Pedro detention center near Los Angeles, California, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent M. Lopez verbally abused 44-year old Palestinian immigration detainee Abdel-Jabbar Hamdan and refused to let him go to the bathroom when he complained of severe stomach pain and fell screaming on the floor clutching his stomach. Lopez then attacked Iranian immigration detainee Mohammed Mirmehdi, dragged him into a storage room and repeatedly punched and choked him. Mr. Mirmehdi has been put in segregation.

Mr. Hamdan remains extremely ill. Neither has received medical care.

Tell Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):

1) Free Abdel-Jabbar Hamdan and all four of the Mirmehdi brothers, without conditions, NOW, and provide all needed medical care while their release is being processed.

2) Remove ICE agent M. Lopez from duty immediately and carry out an investigation into his abuse of detainees.

3) Allow the media and advocates immediate access to the jail to interview Mr. Hamdan, the Mirmehdi brothers and other witnesses and to photograph Mohammed Mirmehdi's bruises.

Send your messages to:

Victor Cerda, head of ICE Detention and Removal Office in Washington, 425 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20536; phone 202-514-8663; fax 202-353-9435; email (c/o ICE Chief of Staff Shelly Han), shelly.han@dhs.gov

Gloria Kee, field operations director of ICE Detention and Removal Office in Los Angeles, 300 North Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90012; phone 213-830-7913 or 213-830-7970; fax 213-830-7973; email gloria.kee@dhs.gov

Send copies to Mr. Hamdan's support committee at mail@adclaoc.org and to the Coalition for the Human Rights of Immigrants at chri@itapnet.org

At about 10:20am PST on Saturday, March 5, 2005, Abdel-Jabbar Hamdan was in the holding area at San Pedro detention center, after returning from the visiting room, when he felt ill and asked to use the bathroom. ICE agent M. Lopez refused to let Mr. Hamdan use the bathroom. When Mr. Hamdan doubled over and clutched his stomach, screaming in pain, agent Lopez did not call for medical help but instead verbally abused Mr. Hamdan and told him he should urinate on himself. Other detainees who witnessed the scene were very concerned, and detainee Mostafa Mirmehdi asked ICE agent Lopez, "What is your name, sir?" with the hopes of later reporting the incident. Lopez became enraged, and confronted Mostafa. When Mohammed Mirmehdi came and stood by his brother, Lopez attacked Mohammed, threw him against a wall and tried to choke him. When Mohammed stood up, Lopez punched him in the face and stomach repeatedly, then dragged him into a storage room--where there is no video camera--and continued to punch, choke and beat him. Lopez also sat on Mohammed's chest, pressing down with his full weight. The savage attack was witnessed by a number of detainees through the door and window of the storage room. The witnesses saw visible choke marks on Mohammed's neck and bruises on his stomach and arms before he was taken away to segregation, where he remains without medical care as of 4pm on March 5. In addition, Mr. Hamdan is still suffering from severe stomach pains and has not received medical treatment.

The assault on Mr. Hamdan and Mr. Mirmehdi comes just five days after Mr. Hamdan's supporters issued an action alert demanding his release. The action alert generated dozens of letters to ICE officials and some 400 signatures on a petition to free Mr. Hamdan, a respected community leader in Orange County, California, who has never been charged with a crime yet is being held without bond. Mr. Hamdan's health is deteriorating in jail--he has blood pressure problems and has been taken to the hospital three times for serious medical emergencies during his seven months in detention. His family is extremely concerned about this latest health crisis and is asking supporters to please step up the pressure on ICE to release him immediately.

Mohammed, Mohsen, Mojtaba and Mostafa Mirmehdi have been in immigration detention for over 41 months, since Oct. 2, 2001. They have been held longer than any other post-911 detainees. The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) ruled they are not a national security threat, and can't be sent back to Iran.

The Mirmehdi brothers have been denied release because two of them went to a demonstration sponsored by the Iranian opposition group National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in June 1997, four months before the NCRI and one of its affiliates, the Moujahedeen Khalq (MEK), were added to the State Department's list of terrorist organizations. Yet high-profile politicians including former attorney general John Ashcroft continued to support these groups actively as late as 2000, when 228 congressional representatives and 31 senators signed on to a letter supporting the NCRI and MEK. Ashcroft and these members of Congress have not been charged with supporting terrorists, yet the Mirmehdi brothers remain in jail.

On Feb. 3, a day before the four brothers were to be interviewed on ABC's "Nightline," and a few weeks before ICE faced a Feb. 20 deadline to free them or explain their continued detention, ICE officials laid out a series of restrictive conditions for their release--including one which bars them from attending demonstrations or from having any contact with supporters of the MEK or NCRI. At the same time, ICE cancelled the Nightline interview, saying the brothers' situation had been resolved. When the brothers refused to accept the unconstitutional and unfair restrictions, ICE said they were "uncooperative" and barred the media from further interviews at the jail. Now ICE says it will not release them.

Press inquiries about the Hamdan and Mirmehdi cases can be directed to attorneys Stacy Tolchin and Marc Van Der Hout at 415-981-3000, ext. 320.

Mr. Hamdan's support committee can be reached through the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Los Angeles/Orange County Chapter, 714-535-1719, mail@adclaoc.org

The Feb. 28 action alert for Mr. Hamdan can be read at:
http://www.lifeorliberty.org/libertyblog/archives/000077.html

For more background information on the Mirmehdi Brothers, see:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20050221-9999-1n21brothers.html
http://www.lifeorliberty.org/libertyblog/archives/000077.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4510019

Posted by Konrad at 06:15 PM | Permalink

Action Alert
February 28, 2005

Take Action Against Illegal Detention!

Tell Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):
Free Abdel-Jabbar Hamdan NOW!

The Supreme Court has ruled that immigration detention is constitutional only when it serves the purpose of carrying out a deportation. The use of immigration detention as punishment--for ethnicity, religion, political views or other reasons--is illegal and unconstitutional.

Mr. Hamdan is a respected community leader in Orange County, California. He has never been charged with a crime, and ICE knows perfectly well he is not a security threat. Mr. Hamdan's health is deteriorating in jail--he has blood pressure problems and has been taken to the hospital three times for serious medical emergencies during his seven months in detention. His family wants him back home NOW.

Ask ICE: why are you keeping Mr. Hamdan in jail?

Call, fax or email:

Victor Cerda, head of ICE Detention and Removal Office in Washington, 425 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20536; phone 202-514-8663; fax 202-353-9435; email c/o ICE Chief of Staff Shelly Han

Gloria Kee, field operations director of ICE Detention and Removal Office in Los Angeles, 300 North Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90012; phone 213-830-7913 or 213-830-7970; fax 213-830-7973; email Gloria Kee Send copies of all messages to Mr. Hamdan's support committee at mail@adclaoc.org

Sign an online petition to demand Mr. Hamdan's release at http://www.petitiononline.com/Hamdan/petition.html

Mr. Hamdan was born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan. He has been living in the US for 25 years and has six US-born children. He had a valid work permit and a green card application in process when he was detained on an alleged immigration violation on July 27, 2004. He has been denied release on bond; the US government claims he is a "national security threat" because he worked as a fundraiser for the Holy Land Foundation, a Muslim charity, before it was shut down in late 2001. Like thousands of Americans, Mr. Hamdan believed the foundation was a legitimate charity.

Five of the foundation's executives were indicted on criminal charges, yet they were freed on their own recognizance within weeks, while Mr. Hamdan--who faces no charges--remains detained. The FBI wanted Mr. Hamdan to provide information against the others--but he would have had to lie, so he declined. He had already told US government investigators everything he knew.

An immigration judge ruled that Mr. Hamdan cannot be deported to Jordan because he would face torture there. The immigration judge also said Mr. Hamdan was not a flight risk because he has substantial family and community ties in Southern California. Yet he remains detained. Now ICE is refusing to allow reporters to interview Mr. Hamdan in the San Pedro detention center. Why?

For more information about the campaign to free Mr. Hamdan, contact:

Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee ADC LA/OC Chapter mail@adclaoc.org (714) 535-1719

Posted by Konrad at 12:51 PM | Permalink

I got this bulletin from the New Jersey Civil Rights Defense Committee:

NJCRDC continues to document horrible conditions at Passaic County Jail. Like Heq Sung Soo, many other detainees there are systematically denied appropriate medical care. They sleep in containers on the floor due to overcrowding. They are physically and mentally abused by jail guards and officials. Although the use of dogs to terrorize and torture has stopped, no one responsible has been prosecuted, and reports of beatings and abuse continue...

We call for an immediate investigation of all parties involved in Mr. Heq Sung Soo's death. We call for an immediate termination of ICE's contract with Passaic County Jail...

Read NJCRDC's full statement

I agree that there should be an investigation. The NJCRDC hasn't specified how Mr. Soo may have been abused or denied treatment, however. Here's part of the Statement from Passaic County Jail:

On Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at approximately 8:45, INS detainee Heq Sung Soo [DOB 2/13/54 (age 50) Korean Male] hanged himself in the Passaic County Jail.

Soo arrived at the jail on January 14, 2005, after BICE requested that we accept a "highly combative and uncooperative" detainee. LT Mason of BICE indicated that Soo was banging his head, biting himself, flinging himself, and generally refusing to comply with any orders.

He was charged with internal disciplinary charges for refusing a direct order and had a hearing. Those charges were dismissed after determining that Soo had difficulty understanding the English language.

Upon arrival, and during the booking Soo refused to be processed. When we attempted to take his picture he dropped to the floor and curled up into a fetal position. When we tried to fingerprint him he jammed his fingers into his mouth and tried to bite them off. He also refused to be medically processed. He was dressed in a paper gown and placed in SDU # 3 for his protection as well as the protection of other inmates and staff members.

On January 17, 2005, Officers making rounds discovered that Soo had made a braided rope out of his paper gown. He was placed in SDU #6 without clothing for observation.

On January 19, 2005, he appeared to unresponsive in his cell. He was checked by medical staff and found to be OK. All vitals were normal and he had no injuries. He was further evaluated by the Nurse Practitioner.

On January 20, 2005, he attempted suicide by wrapping a thin string around his neck (which turned out to be the piping from his mattress). He injured his head when he fell to the floor after the string broke. An officer discovered Soo face down his cell and unresponsive. Soo was transported to Barnert Hospital, treated and transported to St. Mary's for evaluation. He was treated medically and sent to St. Mary's for evaluation. From St. Mary's he was sent to the Ann Klein Forensic Hospital.

On Jan.22, 2005 inmate Soo was admitted to Ann Klein Forensic Center for psychiatric evaluation/treatment .

On Feb.11, 2005 inmate was discharged from Ann Klien and returned to PCJ. The aftercare plan states inmate is to be maintained as an individual who demonstrated self-injurious behavior. Inmate was placed in receiving for observation.

On Feb15, 2005, after discussing the case with BICE it was determined that they did not want him housed in receiving or 1-2. Inmate was placed into SDU#6 for special watch or observation.

On Feb16, 2005 inmate was discovered hanging in cell and was immediately treated and transported to St. Joseph's Hospital Emergency Room via ambulance.

The above is nearly the entire statement, except for Soo's physical description -- read the full pdf here.

What's the SDU? It's the "Special Detention Unit" mentioned in the Inspector General's report on the September 11 detainees:

INS detainees were housed in the medium security portion of the Passaic County Jail. Within that part of the facility, a Special Detention Unit (SDU) of six single-person cells is used when needed to segregate inmates either for their own protection or to punish inmates who commit disciplinary infractions. Inmates confined to the SDU are monitored 24 hours per day by cameras in each cell. In addition, SDU inmates only are permitted to place calls to and receive visits from their attorneys – no social calls or visits are allowed. According to Passaic policy, disciplinary infractions such as assaulting or threatening staff and inmates are usually punishable by confinement in the SDU for 15 to 30 days per incident. Later in this chapter, we discuss the experiences of the few September 11 detainees held in the SDU.

In essence, SDU means solitary confinement and denial of visits from anyone except an attorney -- if the detainee is lucky enough to have one. No visits or phone calls Passaic classifies as "social" -- those from friends, spouses, family members, and community volunteers -- none are allowed in SDU.

This kind of isolation, which goes by different names in different facilities, is officially used both for "punishment" and "protection." The relevant question is whether in a particular case this is truly justified.

Farouk Abdel-Muhti was placed in solitary confinement for eight months after he organized a hunger strike with five other detainees. He was also placed in isolation after he was beaten by a guard. In this incident, Farouk's cell was searched and the guard had found high blood pressure medication Farouk had kept in his cell, which is a violation of prison regulations. But the guard had also found leftist publications in Farouk's cell, which is not in violation of any regulation, and verbally abused him about being anti-American as he struck him and threw him to the ground.

So as a rule we can't take detention facilities' statements about their use of the SDU at face value. The Passaic County Jail statement portrays Mr. Soo as a mentally ill inmate dangerous to himself and others.

We don't know from either NJCRDC or Passaic how long Mr. Soo had been in immigrant detention prior to being taken to Passaic, or whether he had been in SDU conditions for any length of time before. We don't know how he was spoken to or treated prior to or at Passaic, the reason for his detention or what he understood about it, if anything, as a non-English speaker.

According to Passaic Mr. Soo was placed in solitary confinement upon arriving. After 6 days, he attempted suicide and was sent to the hospital for psychiatric treatment, where he stayed for just under three weeks. The evaluation recommended he be treated as a "self-injurious" inmate, and Passaic placed him in "receiving," where he presumably could be closely watched and prevented from injuring himself. Four days later BICE decided, for reasons which are unexplained, to move him back to solitary confinement for "special watch or observation", and the next day he killed himself.

At a glance, Mr. Soo's suicidal behavior is strongly connected with the isolation of SDU. People with any inclination to mental illness are not known to fare well in solitary confinement. In fact, solitary confinement can create mental illness in people who didn't have problems before.

The question is, was SDU the only option Passaic had for Mr. Soo? If it was, why? Passaic represents that they were entrusted with a mentally ill inmate they were unable to prevent from killing himself. But the BICE and the facility assume ultimate responsibility for the welfare of anyone they're holding, because absolutely no one else can. The system needs to be able to handle the mentally ill.

Immigrant detainees are not criminals: they are people being held until they can be deported, which the Supreme Court ruled cannot be for longer than six months. Yet there's virtually no difference in treatment between criminals and immigrant detainees. Except criminals have a right to a court-appointed lawyer, and immigrants do not.

So a detainee often has no one to represent their interests except the prison and the BICE. And when an immigrant without a lawyer is placed in SDU, the Passaic regulations pronounce the immigrant, in effect, "disappeared" -- no calls out or in. That in itself is not a prescription for mental health.

Living in a box day and night, unable to talk to anyone, with no idea how long you'll be there, perhaps no understanding why you're there.

Would only a crazy person contemplate suicide in that situation?

Posted by Konrad at 03:08 PM | Permalink

I got an email from the Center for Constitutional Rights, following up on their war crimes suit naming Rumsfeld, here's an excerpt:

Dear Friend:

Last week we added Gonzales to the war crimes suit we filed with the German prosecutor that charges Rumsfeld and other high-ranking officials with responsibility for torture at Abu Ghraib. Despite the thousands of letters many of you sent, the evidence, and the legal merits of the case, Rumsfeld strong-armed the German government into refusing the suit before he would agree to attend an important security conference in Munich.

We knew this would be a long fight: we'll be re-arguing the case in 10 days, submitting additional papers and appealing to a higher court in Germany. Please take a minute to sign a letter demanding the appointment of a Special Prosecutor here in the U.S.

Ron Daniels and Michael Ratner
Executive Director and President
Center for Constitutional Rights

I posted about their suit here. If you agree that Rumsfeld should be held responsible for the abuses perpetrated in Iraq, please take action.

Posted by Konrad at 12:49 PM | Permalink

from Immigration News Briefs Vol. 8, No. 6 - February 5, 2005

Immigration News Briefs is a weekly supplement to Weekly News Update on the Americas, published by Nicaragua Solidarity Network, 339 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012; tel 212-674-9499; fax 212-674-9139; wnu@igc.org. INB is also distributed free via email (see below).

On Jan. 26, Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced HR 418, the "Real ID Act," with 115 co-sponsors. The bill includes a host of anti-immigrant provisions which were left out of "intelligence reform" legislation passed by Congress last December [see INB 12/11/04]. Among other things, the bill would bar states from issuing driver licenses to undocumented immigrants, and set up a system of "temporary" and "regular" licenses according to immigration status; impose new restrictions on asylum seekers, such as allowing officials to require written corroboration of asylum claims; and mandate completion of a third border fence near San Diego, overriding 16 state and federal environmental laws that currently bar its construction [see INB 2/21/04]. In defining grounds for inadmissibility, the bill also states that "an alien who is an officer, official, representative, or spokesman of the Palestine Liberation Organization is considered, for purposes of this Act, to be engaged in a terrorist activity."

HR 418 is expected to move quickly to the House floor, where it may be attached as an amendment to fast-tracked supplemental appropriations bills for tsunami relief or the US war in Iraq, and scheduled for a vote as early as Feb. 9. Media reports suggest Sen. John Kyl (R-AZ) may also introduce companion legislation in the Senate.

On Feb. 1, Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA)--who co-sponsored HR 418-- introduced a separate bill, HR 368, the "Driver's License Security and Modernization Act," which would require that each US state confirm an immigrant's legal status before issuing a driver license or other state-issued identification card. HR 368 has been referred to the House Government Reform committee, which Davis chairs.

Immigrant rights supporters are urged to call Congress (202- 224-3121) and the White House (202-456-1111) to express opposition to these bills. For more information, see http://humanrightsfirst.org and http://aila.org. [National Immigration Forum Alert 2/2/05; Rights Working Group Alert 2/4/05; Latin America Working Group Alert 2/2/05; Text of HR 418 from http://thomas.loc.gov]

Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX), the House majority leader, said on Feb. 1 that a guest worker program proposed by President George W. Bush will not be included in debate over HR 418. Congress can consider such measures over the next two years, said DeLay. Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), who supports both the guest worker plan and HR 418, confirmed he would not try to combine the two proposals; he said he considers HR 418 to be a border security measure, not an immigration bill. [Washington Times 2/2/05]

On Feb. 3, the Senate voted 60-36 to confirm Alberto Gonzales as attorney general. [Roll call at senate.gov] Gonzales has been widely criticized for his positions on the use of torture in interrogations [see 11/20/04, 1/22/05].

Immigration News Briefs (INB), a weekly English-language summary of US immigration news, is forwarded out to the email list of the Coalition for the Human Rights of Immigrants (CHRI). If you receive INB as a forwarded message, and you wish to subscribe directly to INB, or to the CHRI email list (which includes INB and local NYC area events, average 4-5 messages a week), write to nicajg@panix.com (indicate "CHRI list" or "INB only").

Posted by Konrad at 05:17 PM | Permalink

Torture Is Not Quaint.
Act with the Center for Constitutional Rights
To Oppose the Gonzales Nomination!

Dear friends and supporters,

This is the week to make your voice heard! Confirmation hearings on the nomination of Alberto Gonzales for Attorney General begin Wednesday, January 5. If you haven't already contacted your representatives, click here to send a letter (or paste http://www.ccr-ny.org/actionalert into your browser).

Two weeks ago, we called on people to oppose the nomination of one of the chief architects of this Administration's lawless torture policy to the highest law enforcement office in the land. Last Thursday night, right before New Year's Eve, the government quietly posted a new torture memo that repudiated the memos Gonzales wrote and commissioned as White House Counsel and omitted his most radical recommendations: even they don't think his legal opinions on these crucial questions stand up to scrutiny.

Please take a minute to send a letter to your representatives urging them to do more than ask difficult questions. Ask them to stand up and oppose the Gonzales nomination. The time to start fighting is now.

And please forward this widely and quickly!

Sincerely yours,

Ron Daniels
Executive Director
Center for Constitutional Rights

P.S. We appreciate your help in our efforts to hold this Administration accountable for its extremist actions and policies. If you do not wish to receive emails from CCR in the future, please respond to this email with "remove from list" in the subject line. And if you would like to learn more about the important work CCR does on Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, the Patriot Act, corporate accountability and more, please visit our website: www.ccr-ny.org.

Tough Questions Are Not Enough

In their scathing editorial on the nomination, The Washington Post linked Alberto Gonzales directly to the torture at Abu Ghraib and called his legal positions "damaging and erroneous." Newsweek wrote that "Gonzales ultimately signed off on all of the administration's most controversial legal moves."

In his infamous torture memo, Alberto Gonzales called the Geneva Conventions "obsolete" and "quaint" and paved the way to the systematic abuse of detainees at Guant?namo and Abu Ghraib, many of whom are represented by the Center for Constitutional Rights. At CCR, we have seen the terrible effect of his policies on human beings first hand.

Even though experts in interrogation have long known that torture elicits false confessions and bad intelligence, Gonzales and his circle discussed the use of specific torture techniques like mock burial and water boarding, and approved the use of dogs, hooding, and extreme sensory deprivation, all forbidden by the Geneva Conventions and the International Covenant Against Torture. Americans can now no longer expect to be protected by the Geneva Conventions: the policies devised by Mr. Gonzales have endangered our own troops the world over for decades to come.

Despite all this, many members of Congress have said they will not oppose Mr. Gonzales's nomination and that he will only be made to answer tough questions before sailing through the confirmation process.

We at the Center for Constitutional Rights object to giving an architect of torture a promotion. Tough questions are not enough. Please ask your Senators, Representatives and the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to stand up and oppose the nomination of Alberto Gonzales for Attorney General.

Confirmation hearings begin this Wednesday. Please send a message to the Bush Administration and the world that the American people do not condone torture.

Posted by Konrad at 10:11 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (12)

Dear Friends and opponents of torture,

 

President Bush's nomination of White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales to be the next Attorney General would elevate the architect of the Administration's torture policy to the position of the chief law enforcement officer in the land.  His confirmation hearing begins on January 5.  Please help us oppose this travesty of justice, tell your representatives: "tough questions are not enough." Send a message to the Bush Administration and the world that the American people do not condone torture.

 

Mr. Gonzales is the author of the infamous ?torture memo? that called the Geneva Conventions "obsolete" and "quaint," and he has argued for virtually limitless presidential power to evade or circumvent laws and treaties on the theory that the Commander-in-Chief is not accountable to the Judiciary as it relates to the "war against terrorism."  The memos Gonzales authored and commissioned paved the way to the abuse and torture of detainees at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib, many of whom are represented by the Center for Constitutional Rights.  At CCR, we have seen the terrible effect of the evasion of the rule of law on human beings first hand. There is no question but that there is a causal link between the memoranda and other directives devised by Mr. Gonzales and the horrible infractions committed by officers in the field.

As White House counsel, Gonzales consistently treated the law as an inconvenient obstacle and ignored the expertise of those who disagreed with him. He argued that U.S. citizens could be held incommunicado and stripped of the right to counsel and the right to challenge their detention in a court of law for as long as the President deemed necessary. He hosted meetings where they discussed the use of specific torture techniques, including mock burial and ?water boarding,? where the victim is made to feel that he is drowning. Gonzales and his circle approved the use of dogs, hooding, and extreme sensory deprivation, all forbidden by the Geneva Conventions and the International Covenant Against Torture. He redefined torture to limit it to only those actions that lead to organ failure, death or permanent psychological damage. Gonzales justified this relaxed definition of torture on the grounds that in a time of war, interrogators   need to extract information from prisoners quickly to save American lives.  However, it has long been established by experts in the field that torture leads to false confessions and bad intelligence.  The policies advocated by Mr. Gonzales will expose our own troops to danger the world over for decades to come.

 

In their scathing editorial on the nomination, The Washington Post linked Mr. Gonzales directly to the tortures at Abu Ghraib and called his legal positions "damaging and erroneous." Newsweek wrote that "Gonzales ultimately signed off on all of the administration's most controversial legal moves."

 

Many members of Congress have said that they will not oppose Mr. Gonzales's nomination, that he will only be made to answer tough questions before sailing through the confirmation process. We at the Center for Constitutional Rights object to giving an architect of torture a promotion. We reiterate, tough questions are not enough. Please ask your Congressional representatives and the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to stand up and oppose the nomination of Alberto Gonzales for Attorney General.  We hope you will join us in declaring that this man and his policies do not represent who we are as Americans!

 

Please circulate this widely and quickly, the hearings begin the first week of the New Year!  To send a letter, click here.

 

 If the hyperlink does not work, cut and paste: http://www.ccr-ny.org/actionalert in your browser

 

Sincerely yours,

 

Ron Daniels

Executive Director

Center for Constitutional Rights

Posted by Konrad at 10:13 AM | Permalink

From: Jane G. [mailto:nicajg@panix.com]
Sent: Fri 12/10/2004 9:49 AM
To: Coalition for the Human Rights of Immigrants
Subject: [CHRI] WED 12/15: Tell Pataki: Stop Suspending Immigrant Licenses

[texto en espan~ol sigue al ingles]

STOP THE SUSPENSIONS!

Join us to tell Governor Pataki to STOP SUSPENDING IMMIGRANTS' LICENSES!

What: PROTEST GOVERNOR PATAKI FOR SUSPENDING IMMIGRANTS' LICENSES!
When: Wednesday, December 15th, 2004
Time: 3:00 pm
Where: Governor Pataki's Manhattan Office
633 Third Avenue between 40th & 41st streets in New York City.
Subway Directions: 4/5/6/7/S to Grand Central/42nd Stop

The State of New York is threatening to suspend the drivers' licenses of almost 300,000 immigrants who can not verify their Social Security numbers. Losing their licenses will have devastating consequences for hard-working immigrant New Yorkers. Many immigrants need to drive to support their families--if their licenses are suspended they will lose the ability to work, to take their children to school and to drive to hospitals. Join us to tell Governor Pataki to STOP THE SUSPENSIONS!

For more information, contact:
Bhairavi Desai, New York Taxi Workers Alliance (212) 627-5248, nytwa1@aol.com
Gouri Sadhwani, New York Civic Participation Project (212) 388-3208,
gsadhwani@nycpp.org
Amy Sugimori, National Employment Law Project (212) 285-3025x102,
asugimori@nelp.org
Jackie Vimo, New York Immigration Coalition (212) 627-2227 x239,
jvimo@thenyic.org

NY Coalition for Immigrants' Rights to Drivers' Licenses

Why are immigrants losing their drivers' licenses?

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is threatening to take licenses away from almost 300,000 immigrants across the state. Since January 2004, the DMV has been sending letters to thousands of drivers informing them that there is a problem with the Social Security Number in their files. Drivers who cannot provide a valid Social Security number will eventually have their drivers' licenses suspended and lose the ability to drive legally in New York State.

What will happen to people who lose their licenses? Losing their licenses will have devastating consequences for hard-working immigrant New Yorkers. Many immigrants need to drive to support their families--if their licenses are
suspended they will lose the ability to work, to take their children to school
and to drive to hospitals.

The DMV is unfairly targeting immigrants by taking away their licenses. Immigrants are NOT terrorists. Discriminating against immigrants by taking away their licenses will only drive immigrants further underground. Suspending immigrants' licenses will also increase the number of uninsured and unlicensed drivers on the road and raise auto insurance premiums for all drivers.

How can this be stopped? The solution is simple: The DMV must STOP SUSPENDING IMMIGRANTS' LICENSES! The law does NOT say that immigration status is a requirement for drivers' licenses. The DMV's job is to keep our roads safe, not to enforce immigration laws. We need to send the message to Governor Pataki and to DMV Commissioner Martinez that DMV should keep its eyes on the road and stop acting as immigration officials.

What can I do? You can contact Governor Pataki at (518) 474-8390 and tell him, "STOP THE SUSPENSIONS OF IMMIGRANT LICENSES!" You can also join the New York Coalition for Immigrants' Rights to Drivers' Licenses, a coalition of community, immigrant, religious and labor groups and New Yorkers concerned about immigrants' rights. We organize regular meetings, rallies, events, press conferences and other activities. We need your help. Join us!

TO JOIN US, OR FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Amy Sugimori, National Employment Law Project (212) 285-3025x102
Gouri Sadhwani, New York Civic Participation Project (212) 388-3208
Jackie Vimo, New York Immigration Coalition (212) 627-2227x239

The NY Coalition for Immigrants' Rights to Drivers' Licenses

***

¡ALTO a las Suspensiones!

Dile al Gobernador Pataki que:
¡Pare las suspensiones de las licencias de inmigrantes!

QUE: Protesta al Gobernador Pataki por las suspensiones de las licencias de los inmigrantes
CUANDO: Miercoles 15 de Diciembre, 2004, a las 3PM
DONDE:  La oficina de Manhattan del Gobernador Pataki
        633 de la Tercera Avenida (entre las calles 40 y 41 de Manhattan)
Como llegar en Subway:  Trenes 4/5/6/7/S hasta la estación  Grand Central /
calle 42

El Estado de Nueva York esta por suspender las licencias de casi 300,000
inmigrantes quienes no pueden verificar sus números de Seguro Social.
Estas suspensiones van a tener consecuencias desastrosas para los Neoyorquinos inmigrantes.  Muchos inmigrantes necesitan manejar para darle de comer a su familia-si pierden sus licencias podrán perder sus trabajos, la habilidad de llevar sus hijos a la escuela y de manejar al hospital. Únase a nosotros en una protesta para mandarle el mensaje al Gobernador Pataki que ¡PARE LAS SUSPENSIONES! ....

PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN CONTACTESE CON:
Jackie Vimo, New York Immigration Coalition (212) 627-2227x239
Bhairavi Desai, New York Taxi Workers Alliance (212) 627-5248
Gouri Sadhwani, New York Civic Participation Project (212) 388-3208
Amy Sugimori, National Employment Law Project (212) 285-3025x102

Coalición de Nueva York por los Derechos de los Inmigrantes a Licencias de
Manejar

¿Porqué estan los inmigrantes perdiendo sus licencias de manejar?

El Departamento de Motores y Vehiculos (DMV) del Estado de Nueva York esta amenazando con quitar las licencias de casi 300,000 inmigrantes a lo largo del estado. Desde Enero 2004, el DMV ha estado enviando cartas a miles de conductores informandoles que hay un problema con su Número de Seguro Social y sus archivos.  Los conductores que no pueden proveer un Número de Seguro
Social valido tendrán eventualmente sus licencias de manejar suspendidas y
perderán la abilidad de manejar legalmente en el Estado de Nueva York.

¿Qué le pasará a las personas que pierdan sus licencias? Perder sus licencias tendrá consecuencias devastadoras para los trabajadores inmigrantes Neoyorquinos.  Muchos inmigrantes necesitan manejar para mantener a sus familias - si sus licencias son suspendidas ellos perderán la abilidad para trabajar, llevar sus niños a la escuela y manejar al hospital.
El DMV esta apuntando injustamente a los inmigrantes quitandoles sus licencias.   Los Inmigrantes NO son terroristas. Discriminar en contra de los inmigrantes quitandoles sus licencias solo conducirá a los inmigrantes más abajo de donde estan. Suspender las licencias de los inmigrantes incrementará también el número de conductores sin seguro y sin licencias en el camino y aumentará el seguro de auto de todos los conductores.

¿Cómo se puede parar esto? La solución es simple: El DMV debe PARAR LA SUSPENSION DE LAS LICENCIAS DE LOS INMIGRANTES! La ley no dice que el estado migratorio es un requisito para las licencias de manejar. El trabajo del DMV es mantener los caminos seguros, y no ejecutar las leyes de inmigración. Nosotros necesitamos enviar el mensaje al Gobernador Pataki y al Comisionado del DMV Martinez que DMV debe mantener sus ojos en el camino y deje de actuar como oficiales de inmigración.

¿Qué puedo hacer? Usted puede contactar al Gobernador Pataki al (518)
474-8390 a su oficina en Albany y decirle que "PARE LA SUSPENSION DE LAS LICENCIAS DE LOS INMIGRANTES!!" Usted también puede unirse a la Coalición de Nueva York por los Derechos de los Inmigrantes a Licencias de Manejar, una coalición de grupos comunitarios, inmigrantes, religiosos y laborales y de Neoyorquinos preocupados por los derechos de los inmigrantes. Nosotros organizamos reuniones regulares, manifestaciones, eventos, conferencias de prensa y otras actividades.  Necesitamos su ayuda.  Unasenos!

PARA UNIRSENOS, O MAS INFORMACION CONTACTE A:

Jackie Vimo, New York Immigration Coalition (212) 627-2227x239
Amy Sugimori, National Employment Law Project (212) 285-3025x102
Gouri Sadhwani, New York Civic Participation Project (212) 388-3208

Coalición de Nueva York por los Derechos de los Inmigrantes a Licencias de
Manejar

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
END FORWARDED MESSAGE(S) / FIN DE MENSAJE(S) REENVIADO(S)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This message distributed by / Este mensaje distribuido por: Coalition for the Human Rights of Immigrants (CHRI) Coalicion para los Derechos Humanos de los Inmigrantes
339 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012 tel 212-254-2591 / 888-575-8242
fax 212-674-9139 email <chri@itapnet.org> http://www.itapnet.org/chri

-->> To get on the CHRI email list (average 4-5 messages a week), sign up
through the website at http://www.itapnet.org/chri -or- to be added to or
removed from the list write to chri@itapnet.org.

-->> Para recibir nuestros mensajes por email (promedio de 4 a 5 mensajes
por semana), inscribase en nuestro sitio, http://www.itapnet.org/chri, o, para
unirse a o quitarse de la lista, escribanos al chri@itapnet.org.

Posted by Konrad at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Stateless Palestinian Refugee is now in a US jail, eventually to be deported to the refugee camp!

Denounce the deportation of Ahmad Nafaa, demand his return to Canada!

December 1. 2004-- Tuesday morning, Ahmad Nafaa was deported from Canada to the United States. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) turned Ahmad over to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS), who immediately locked him up in the Clinton County Jail in Northern New York. All of this occurred despite the week-long efforts of the Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees and allies, who had been working, since Ahmad was detained on November 23, to prevent his deportation. The night before Ahmad was deported, friends went to visit him in the Laval detention center, Ahmad was very afraid of what is awaiting him in the US and felt that his last hope for living a life in peace and dignity was being crushed in those few hours. Ahmad removed a map of Palestine from his necklace and gave it to a friend for fear of being harassed in the US by immigration officials or in the US jail.

At this moment, Ahmad is being transferred from the Clinton County Jail to the INS detention center near Buffalo, NY. The situation he faces in the US, in addition to the injustice of an arbitrary detention, is difficult and dangerous. It is unlikely that the US will not eventually deport him back to the 56-year-old Palestinian refugee camp of Ein El Helweh in Lebanon, back to a life of statelessness and a life void of all fundamental civil and human rights. It is crucial to recall that occurs against the background of the Canadian government’s continued support of Israel and the illegal occupation of Palestine.

Ahmad will probably be found ineligible to claim asylum as a refugee in the US. US immigration law imposes a one year time limit for the filing of a refugee claim, and the time starts running at the moment the claimant first enters the country. Because Ahmad first entered the US, on his way to Canada, in 2001, that time period has expired. He can apply for a 'Withholding from Removal', but the standards applied to such an application are much higher than for a refugee claim, and it does not confer the same status. The acceptance rates in the US for both types of claims are disturbingly low. Even if Ahmad is released from detention during the time that his claims are processed, he will not be eligible for a work permit for six months.

While Ahmad was being forced into this situation by CIC and the CBSA, the Minister of Immigration Canada, Judy Sgro, ignored a wide variety of efforts to convince her to stop Ahmad’s deportation. Several members of Parliament, including Bill Siksay (NDP), Meille Faille (Bloc), and Alexa McDonough (NDP), personally pressured the Minister to review Ahmad's file and stay his deportation. On Monday morning, Bill Siksay asked the following question in Parliament: “Could the Prime Minister assure us that Canada will live up to its obligations under the UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and, given his personal commitment to the protection of Palestinians, will he ensure that stateless Palestinian refugees are not deported from Canada?” Over the past week, the Minister and several high-level bureaucrats in CIC received thousands of faxes, phone calls and emails explaining Ahmad's situation and demanding a stay of deportation. Despite all of this, the Minister remained intransigent.

The Coalition organized four demonstrations in support of Ahmad, two in front of Immigration Canada’s Montreal office, one at the Laval detention center where Ahmad was being held, and one in front of the Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration in Ottawa. The Coalition’s allies in Toronto organized a demonstration at the riding offices of Minister Sgro.

Several major media outlets, including the CBC, Radio Canada, La Presse, Le Devoir, The Gazette and Global Television, provided extensive coverage of these demonstrations and Ahmad's plight. Journalists were able to interview Ahmad over the weekend while he was in detention in Laval. These interviews appeared on television and in the print media. Still, Sgro, who was surely made aware of the extensive media coverage and public awareness regarding Ahmad, refused to act.

For a sampling of the media coverage, visit the following:
http://radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Index/nouvelles/200411/28/002-nafaa-lav al.shtml
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=e485c8 88-9dd2-492c-a26b-f66479a64fb5
http://radio-canada.ca/regions/Montreal/nouvelles/200411/29/009-DEPORTAT IONPALESTINIEN.shtml
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/article/article_complet.php?path=/a ctualites/article/1,63,0,112004,852430.php
http://radio-canada.ca/regions/Montreal/nouvelles/200411/24/012-MANIFDEP ORTATIONPALESTINEN.shtml

The Federal Court also failed to prevent this injustice. On Monday afternoon, Judge Beaudry rejected an application for a stay of deportation, which had been filed by Ahmad’s lawyer, Annick Legault. The judge, incredibly, found that Ahmad would not face ‘irreparable harm’ if deported to the US. One wonders what reparations Judge Beaudry would therefore find adequate for the indignity and loss of liberty that Ahmad has already suffered during just his first 24 hours in the US. Judge Beaudry also denied the application on the grounds that Ahamd did not have ‘clean hands’ because he had been living underground for over a year before being detained (he way, as they say, ‘illegal’). In essence, the judge refused the application because Ahmad had been forced underground in order to avoid deportation to the poverty and persecution that are daily life in the refugee camps of Lebanon. This despite the fact that the initial refusal of Ahmad’s refugee claim was clearly unjust. A clear indication of that is that fact that his own brother, who has exactly the same case, was granted refugee status in Canada and is allowed to stay simply because a different Immigration & Refugee Board member heard his case.

The Coalition is now organizing to arrange to pay a $10,000 (USD) bond so that Ahmad may be released from detention while he awaits his virtually guaranteed deportation back to Lebanon.

PLEASE CALL, FAX and EMAIL THE MINISTER OF IMMIGRATION We ask you to again write, call or email the Removal Officer in this case and the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, expressing your outrage and disgust at the failure of the government to prevent this gross injustice.

WHEN YOU CALL, DEMAND FROM CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION: 1) To accept Ahmad Nafaa’s humanitarian and compassionate grounds application, which was filed over 6 months ago, so that he may return to Canada.
2) To stop the deportation and regularize the status of the Stateless Palestinian refugees who are facing deportation from Canada.

For more information, contact the Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees:
Email: refugees@riseup.net
Phone: 514.591.3171
http://refugees.resist.ca
----------------------

Removal Officer
Ludmilla St-Saveur
Agent d'execution de la loi-CBSA
1010 rue St-Antoine
Phone: 496-2683
Fax: 496-1882

Judy Sgro
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada
CIC National Headquarters 365 Laurier, Jean Edmonds South Tower, 21st Floor Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1 Fax: (613) 947-8319 Phone: (613) 954-1064 Minister@cic.gc.ca Sgro.J@parl.gc.ca

RE : STATELESS PALESTINIAN REFUGEE AHMAD NAFAA (4277-4326)

Honourable Judy Sgro,

December 1 2004 - AHMAD NAFAA has been deported from Canada to the United States, and after being locked in the Clinton County Jail, he is being transferred to an INS detention center. We, therefore, respectfully request that, as Citizenship and Immigration Minister, immediately accept his application for permanent residence on compassionate and humanitarian grounds so that he may return to Canada. The Canadian government has already failed Mr. Nafaa once, by failing to stop his unjust deportation, and the only way to remedy that wrong is to allow Mr. Nafaa to return to Canada as soon as possible.

Mr. Nafaa was born a stateless Palestinian in Ein El-Hilweh refugee camp in Lebanon. Fear, poverty and persecution are daily facts of life in the Ein El-Hilweh camp, and the present and future are grim for resident Palestinians. They are banned from an ever-expanding number of trades and professions. Unemployment among them, as a result, is extremely high. Poverty rates are also astronomical. The restrictions on new construction within the camp means its residents are forced to live in dilapidated, hopelessly abject housing. All these factors lead to a situation so bleak for Palestinians that suicide in the camp is an everyday tragedy.

After 24 years in the camp and suffering its endemic racism, discrimination, fear, violence and poverty, Mr. Nafaa fled Lebanon and claimed refugee status in Canada. His claim was denied on February 20, 2002. On the other hand, his brother Mohammad¹s refugee claim, heard by a different member of the refugee board, was accepted.

Since arriving in Canada, Mr. Nafaa has become fully integrated in Canadian and Quebec society. He has been reunited with his brother, and they have renewed their close family ties. Mr. Nafaa currently works full-time in a restaurant and is a self-sufficient and contributing member of his community. He dreams of returning to school and finishing the nursing degree he began in Lebanon. After suffering for so many years as a refugee, his greatest desire is to alleviate the suffering of others. In every sense, Mr. Nafaa has found a home in Canada.

Ahmad Nafaa now faces deportation from the U.S. to the refugee camps of Lebanon, where the conditions faced by Palestinians are dangerous, degrading and, beyond dispute, in clear violation of international law. This situation, over half-a-century old, is directly related to the statelessness of Palestinians. Because of their unique situation, Palestinians have been denied not only rights accorded ordinary citizens but also genuine access to the international system for the protection of refugees. The fact that Mr. Nafaa’s immediate deportation was to the United States does not materially affect his plight. Eventual deportation to his country of origin is virtually automatic.

In signing the United Nations Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness in 1978, the government of Canada championed the cause of stateless refugees. If Canada allows Mr. Nafaa to return to Lebanon, it would be abdicating that noble responsibility. The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration must therefore act now to grant Mr. Nafaa, and the other stateless Palestinian refugees facing deportation from Canada, permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, pursuant to s. 25(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

We thank you for your attention and efforts in this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

(YOUR NAME, ADDRESS)

CC: -Office of the Prime Minister of Canada: pm@pm.gc.ca, Fax: 613-941-6900 -Michel Dorais, Deputy Minister CIC: Fax: (613) 954-3509 or (613) 954-5448
-René D’Aoust: Director Investigation & Removal: Phone: (514) 496-1238, Fax: (514) 496-1882
-Monique Leclair, Director General: CIC QC Regional Office: Fax: (514) 496-3976
-Andrew Telegdi, P.C. (Chair of Standing Committee on Citizenship & Immigration): telega@parl.gc.ca
- Bill Siksay, MP (NDP - Immigration): siksay.b@parl.gc.ca
- Meili Faille, MP (Bloc Québécois - Immigration): Faille.M@parl.gc.ca

Posted by Konrad at 04:23 PM | Permalink

Call on the German Federal Prosecutor to Investigate Rumsfeld and Other U.S. Officials for War Crimes at Abu Ghraib

The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and four Iraqis who were tortured in U.S. custody have filed a complaint with the German Federal Prosecutor's Office against high ranking United States civilian and military commanders over the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison and elsewhere in Iraq.

We are asking the German prosecutor to launch an investigation: since the U.S. government is unwilling to open an independent investigation into the responsibility of these officials for war crimes, and since the U.S. has refused to join the International Criminal Court, CCR and the Iraqi victims have brought this complaint in Germany as a court of last resort. Several of the defendants are stationed in Germany.

Defendants include Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, former CIA Director George Tenet, Lt. General Ricardo S. Sanchez, Major-General Walter Wojdakowski, Brig.-General Janis Karpinski, Lt.-Colonel Jerry L. Phillabaum, Colonel Thomas M. Pappas, Lt.-Colonel Stephen L. Jordan, Major-General Geoffrey Miller, and Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence Stephen Cambone.

German law allows German courts to prosecute for killing, torture, cruel and inhumane treatment, forcible transfers and sexual coercion such as occurred at Abu Ghraib. The world has seen the photographs and read the leaked "torture memos" - we are doing what is necessary when other systems of justice have failed and seeking to hold officials up the chain of command responsible for the shameful abuses that occurred.

Please join our effort! The German Prosecutor has discretion to decide whether to initiate an investigation. It is critical that he hear from you so he knows that people around the world support this effort.

Send a letter here.

(If the above link doesn't work, paste this address into your browser:
http://www.ccr-ny.org/v2/whatsnew/action/actionAlert2.asp
For more information on the suit, go to www.ccr-ny.org .)

And please forward this message widely!

Sincerely,

Michael Ratner
President
Center for Constitutional Rights

Posted by Konrad at 11:08 AM | Permalink

From: Sivaprasad, Shoba [immigrationforum.org]
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 11:37 AM
Subject: FW: Need your help on 9/11 recs bill
Importance: High

We really need your help making calls to these offices to keep the bad immigration provisions out of the 9/11 bill. We are getting reports from Democratic offices that calls are running 5 to 1 in favor of adding the Sensenbrenner immigration provisions to the intelligence reform conference report. FAIR reports a 30 to 1 margin of calls in to Sensenbrenner's office, but they are prone to exaggeration. Still, it's clear that this week is our last big push for the year as negotiations either will or will not advance right now. PLEASE circulate this action alert to your networks and make calls yourself. The call-in week starts today with the White House and Speaker Hastert, and continues through Friday with your own members. Thank you!

TAKE PART IN THE NATIONWIDE CALL-IN WEEK

NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 3

Congress is coming back on Dec. 6th to possibly vote on an intelligence reform bill. We need to make sure that the final bill does not include the bad immigration provisions we have been fighting against. Scroll to the bottom for a short update on the bill.

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

In order to stop the anti-immigrant provisions from becoming law, your voice is needed! Please make two to three calls a day for the next four days:

* Tuesday, Nov. 30: Call the White House at (202) 456-1111 and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL) at (202) 225-2976.

* Wednesday, Dec. 1: Call Rep. Hoekstra (R-MI) at (202) 225-4401 and Rep. Harman (D-CA) at (202) 225-8220. Call the White House if you haven't yet done so at (202) 456-1111.

* Thursday, Dec. 2: Call Sen. Collins (R-ME) at (202) 224-2523 and Sen. Lieberman (D-CT) at (202) 224-4041. Call the White House if you haven't yet done so at (202) 456-1111.

* Friday, Dec. 3: Call your own senators and representative. You can find your representative's information at: http://www.house.gov and two senators' information at: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm . Call the White House if you haven't yet done so at (202) 456-1111.

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE?

When you call, tell them:

I want you to keep the anti-immigrant provisions pushed by Rep. Sensenbrenner out of the intelligence reform bill.

The Senate-led compromise already contains border security measures; the additional provisions pushed by Rep. Sensenbrenner are extreme and were not part of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations.

I want you to enact the real recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, not the agenda of House immigration restrictionists.

Finally, tell them that we need comprehensive immigration reform-not non-solutions that will only drive people further underground and cause panic in immigrant communities.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE 9/11 BILL?

The weekend before Thanksgiving, Senate members of the conference committee devised a compromise that excluded the worst of the anti-immigrant House provisions but kept several "border security" measures, such as an increase in the number of border patrol agents and a mandate for federal agencies to devise minimum standards for the issuance of driver's licenses (in contrast to the more strident House ID language that would bar undocumented immigrants from obtaining state-issued IDs or using consular IDs).

This was not enough for Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), who insisted on the inclusion of the extraneous immigration provisions. He was joined by Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA) who objected to shifting intelligence authority and resources from the Pentagon to other agencies. Due to their objections, the compromise was pulled.

Since then, the White House has said it will work to get a bill passed this year. The conference committee leadership also wants a bill this year. Pressure is mounting to finalize the deal, but Representative Sensenbrenner is not backing down.

Congress will come back to Washington, DC for a short session on December 6th to vote on an intelligence reform bill if the conference committee can come to an agreement. We need to make sure that the White House, conference committee leadership, the majority of conferees, and your own senators and representatives (who will have to vote on the compromise measure) do not give in to Representative Sensenbrenner's demands. The President is key in this debate; according to media reports he supports the Senate compromise, but he must hear from us in order to stay strong and bring members of his own party into line.

TO SEND AN EMAIL OR FAX:

If you cannot call Congress and the White House this week, you can also communicate with them via email or fax. To do so go to:

Human Rights First

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
for Congress
for White House

National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium (NAPALC)

YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT * TAKE ACTION TODAY

Posted by Konrad at 11:48 AM | Permalink

The immigrant detainee hunger strike at Passsaic County Jail is in its 9th Day!!! Please send letters of support to info@nj-civilrights.org

The hunger strikers were visited by representatives from ICE yesterday, November 29; the main person in the delegation was Lt. Boyce from Varick Street office in NYC.

For a time the Passaic County jail Cpt. and Sgt. were present and Rosendo and Abdoulie did request that in the future that these officials not be present, want to meet with ICE by themselves because they don't feel it's the jail officials' business.

They both gave, or attempted to give, all their documents to ICE offiicals. All the documents that Rosendo had prepared were accepted. Lt. Boyce was much less respectful to Abdoulie and rejected all his letters of recommendation from employers and church, saying that he didn't have to see this. Boyce only accepted Aboulie's letter stating his grounds for the hunger strike. (See Abdoulie's statement at the end of this message)

Then Lt. Boyce said look we will offer you a deal, you suspend your hunger strike and two days from now we will give you an answer on your cases. Rosendo replied for both of them saying last time I trusted you, I gave you the benefit of the doubt. I'm not trusting you anymore, we aren't ending the hunger strike until we are released.

Rosendo restated the fact that he is being held illegally, that there is no prospect of deporting him and he has been held for more than six months. ICE did not respond to these concerns. Lt. Boyce did say that they could not just demand their release, that they could not hunger strike for their release. Rosendo replied that regardless of what they "could" do they were hunger striking for their release.

Then the chaplain, David Riallo, came in and urged the detainees to stop the hunger strike telling them that their case was being referred to the highest level of ICE and he was sure those officials are recommending the detainees' release. Rosendo asked who were the officials at the highest level and the chaplain said he did not know any names.

The guard came and said please we want a waiver to get you to the nurse for an examination. The detainees agreed that every two weeks they will waive their refusal for medical care so their blood pressure and weight can be taken.

Rosendo, 5'9", dropped from 180 to 164, blood pressure is 100/80 (loss of 16 pounds).

Abouli, 6'2", dropped from 185 to 164, blood pressure is normal (loss of 21 pounds).

The detainees are satisfied with their treatment by the jail in respond to their requests -- they are being given apple and orange juice and have been moved out of the bullpen to a quieter cell alone together.

Aboulie Secka's Hunger Strike Statement
mailed to ICE November 16th and given by hand to Lt. Boyce on November 29th. This is a notarized letter:

I honestly cannot and will not endure this situation any longer. This is a notice of my intentions to commence a hunger strike and also a compliance strike against the medical department. I refuse to eat food, and I refuse to be medicated and weighed. The humiliation of being incarcerated like a dog without a release date and in violation of all human and constitutional laws obliges me to resolve to either die of starvation or regain freedom.

This is a report from the NJ Civil Rights Defense Committee. For more information on the struggle for civil rights and against illegal detentions visit nj-civilrights.org

Posted by Konrad at 01:37 PM | Permalink

While many of us were gorging ourselves on turkey, Rosendo Lewis and Bdulie Secka were continuing to refuse food in a bid to force immigration and prison authorities to release them from detention.
See previous post. Passaic County Jail Hunger Strike – Day 7

Rosendo Lewis and Abdulie Secka have just completed their 7th day of hunger strike at Passaic County Jail demanding their release from immigration custody. Earlier this evening Rosendo was taken to the medical unit in the jail with chest pains where the "nurse" took his vital signs and said he was fine since his blood pressure was 120 over 80 and that he just has gas. Rosendo has had two strokes and has a history of heart disease in his family.

Lewis and Secka have been requesting juice during their strike because they want to make sure they have enough potassium in their system to keep their muscles functioning. This is particularly important for people with heart disease. The jail is refusing to provide them with citrus juice and instead is giving them red fruit punch.

Please help by calling Deputy Warden Brian Bendl or Warden Charles Meyers and requesting that the hunger strikers be given citrus juices on a regular basis. The phone number at the jail is (973) 881- 4591

New Jersey Civil Rights Defense Committee
http://www.nj-civilrights.org

Posted by Konrad at 09:56 AM | Permalink

Two detainees at Passaic County Jail are in their 5th day of hunger strike demanding their release. ICE formally recognizes a hunger strike only after 72 hours.

These immigrant detainees are being held in jail even though they have no criminal charges.

Rosendo Lewis is the Cuban detainee who was attacked by dogs at Passaic County Jail and is being held indefinitely since Cuban detainees are not deportable.

Secka Abdoulie is a Gambian detainee who lost an asylum claim and is seeking to stay in the country with his American born wife and child.

These two men are committed to hunger striking as a way to protest the human rights abuses against immigrant detainees and demanding their release. They are both devout Muslims who feel spiritually guided in this struggle. Rosendo and Secka will be posting updates of their hunger strike every day to the NJ Civil Rights Defense Committee website at nj-civilrights.org reporting on treatment by county jail officials and by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement, formally INS).

Please send emails of support to Rosendo and Secka to info@nj-civilrights.org

Press can contact NJ Civil Rights Defense Committee at 646-247-3238 to follow up on the story.

Posted by Konrad at 01:13 PM | Permalink

DEMONSTRATION TODAY!
Wednesday, November 24th, 12:00-13:00
Immigration Canada: 1010 St. Antoine West (corner Peel)
(metro Bonaventure)

Continue reading "DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE DEPORTATION OF AHMAD NAFAA" »

Posted by Konrad at 09:35 AM | Permalink

Urgent Action Friday -- Nov 19, 2004 NNIRR
Viernes de acción urgente [Sigue en espanol abajo]:

* Call Top Four Conference Committee Members Today!
* Tell them to delete ALL immigration provisions from the 9/11
Commission Bills

House and Senate negotiations are coming to a head on the
legislation that would implement the recommendations of the 9/11
Commission. Due to pressure from diverse constituencies, Senate and
House Democratic members of the Conference Committee are pressing to
have the immigration reform provisions stripped from the final
version of the bill.

DO YOUR PART TO STOP THE 9/11 BILLS:
* TODAY FRIDAY please call or fax the four main Conference Committee
leaders below with the following message:
"We are demanding that all immigration provisions, including the
provisions to increase border and interior immigration enforcement,
be deleted from the 9/11 Commission bills."

1. Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT), ranking Democrat: (202) 224-4041;
Fax(202) 224-9750

2. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME): Tel (202) 224-2523; (202) 224-2693

3. Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA): Tel (202) 225-8220; Fax (202) 226-7290

4. Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI): Tel (202) 225-4401; Fax (202) 226-0779

They must delete all immigration provisions, including:
* Expanded detention/jail space for immigrants
* Expedited removal of immigrants here five years or less and
elimination of due process rights and judicial review of orders of
deportation.
* Increased border enforcement, calling for doubling the number of
Border Patrol agents.
* Enhanced interior enforcement of U.S. immigration laws, calling
for tripling of interior agents.
* Uniform standards for driver's license issuance (denying
undocumented immigrants licenses and making it harder for other
immigrants to get licenses) and barring acceptance of foreign
consular IDs.
* Denial of asylum claims for those suspected of having ties to
terrorist organizations.

If House and Senate conferees do not reach an agreement by this
weekend, it is likely that the bill will die and reintroduced when
the new Congress convenes in January 2005. Then we may have to fight
these provisions again. Please make one last push to stop the anti-
immigrant provisions

Our country and our communities cannot afford to have their civil
liberties and civil rights gutted by the passage of the proposed
9/11 Commission Recommendations bill. Immigration reform must be
delinked from the politics of national security.

Please tell your Congressional delegation (your Representative and
two Senators) that our country can only be made safer by putting
civil liberties, civil rights and human rights first.

* * * * *

Viernes de acción urgente -- 19 de noviembre 2004

* ¡Llame a los cuatro líderes del comité de conferencia hoy!
* Dígales que supriman TODAS las provisiones anti-inmigrantes de la
ley sobre la Comisión del 9/11

Las negociaciones entre la Cámara de Representantes y el Senado para
reconciliar sus leyes sobre la Comisión del 9//1 están llegando a su
fin esta sesión. Debido a la presión de diversos constituyentes,
miembros del Senado y Representantes demócratas en el Comité de
Conferencia están exigiendo la supresión de las medidas sobre
inmigración de la versión final de la ley.

HAGA SU PARTE PARA DERROTAR A LAS LEYES DEL 9/11:

* Por favor haga una llamada o envie un fax HOY VIERNES con el
siguiente mensaje a los cuatro dirigentes del Comite de Conferencia
abajo:

"Estamos exigiendo que todas las provisiones sobre inmigración sean
suprimidas de la leyes de la Comisión sobre el 9/11, incluyendo a
las provisiones que incrementarán la militarización de la frontera y
el número de agentes de la migra en el interior."

1. Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Demócrata principal: (202) 224-
4041; Fax (202) 224-9750

2. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME): Tel (202) 224-2523; (202) 224-2693

3. Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA): Tel (202) 225-8220; Fax (202) 226-7290

4. Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI): Tel (202) 225-4401; Fax (202) 226-0779

Tienen que suprimir todas las provisiones sobre inmigración,
incluyendo:

* La expansión de espacios de detención/cárceles para inmigrantes
* La deportación acelerada de todo inmigrante que haya estado aquí
cinco años o menos y la eliminación de derechos judiciales y acceso
a las cortes para repasar órdenes de deportación
* Incrementación de control migratorio de la frontera, que duplicará
el número de agentes de la Patrulla Fronteriza
* Expansión del control migratorio en el interior del país, que
triplicará el número de agentes de la migra
* Normas nuevas para la emisión de licencias de manejar
(negándoselas a inmigrantes indocumentados y haciéndolo más difícil
para que otros inmigrantes las consigan) y prohibir aceptar las
matrículas consulares.
* Negar el asilo y refugio a esos sospechados de tener vínculos a
organizaciones terroristas.

Si los miembros del Comité de Conferencia no llegan a un acuerdo
para este fin de semana, es muy probable que la ley se expirará y
tendría que ser re-introducida cuando el nuevo Congreso es convocado
en Enero. Entonces tendríamos que luchar contra estas provisiones de
nuevo.

Por favor llame y envíe faxes una vez más para derrotar a todas las
medidas anti-inmigrantes.

Nuestro país y nuestras comunidades no pueden permitir que sus
libertades y derechos civiles sean socavados con la ley de la
Comisión del 9/11.

Todas las reformas y temas de inmigración tienen que ser
desvinculadas de las políticas de la seguridad nacional.

Por favor dígale a su delegación congresista (su Representante y dos
Senadores) que nuestro país será más seguro sólo dando prioridad a
nuestras libertades civiles, nuestros derechos civiles y derechos
humanos.

+++ el fin / the end / tamat +++
____________________________________________
Arnoldo Garcia
National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
310 8th Street STE 303
Oakland, CA 94607
Tel (510) 465-1984 ext. 305
Fax (510) 465-1885
www.nnirr.org

National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR)
310-8th St., Ste. 303
Oakland, CA 94607
510.465.1984
510.465.1885 (fax)
Visit us at www.nnirr.org

Posted by Konrad at 12:22 PM | Permalink

DRUM—Desis Rising Up and Moving, strongly opposes “H.R. 10”, the House version of the “9/11 Commission Recommendations Implementation Act” which could constitute the most significant and disturbing governmental attack in ten years on the rights of all immigrants. HR 10 includes sweeping and extreme anti-immigrant amendments that were never part of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations, in opposition to criticism from the 9/11 Commission, the White House Administration, and families of those who perished on 9/11.

At this moment, members of the House and Senate are meeting behind closed doors, in a Conference Committee, to settle their differences before the bill is submitted to President George W. Bush to be signed into law. H.R. 10 is the latest attack on immigrants since 9/11 under the so-called “War on Terror” which has really become a “War on Immigrants” at home. DRUM demands an end to this targeting of immigrants at home and to the U.S. government’s continued targeting and war on Iraqi civilians abroad which has already left over 30,000 Iraqis dead.

The anti-immigrant measures would strip the few Constitutional rights that immigrants have left, and tear millions more families apart. In particular, DRUM is most concerned that the bill will: radically expand drive-by-deportations in our homes, workplaces, places of worship and schools; deny immigrants the right to have deportation orders reviewed by a Court by eliminating habeas corpus; allow deportations to a country with no government or to a country where immigrants fear persecution or torture; allow more mandatory indefinite detentions; grant enforcement authority to local police for immigration violations; allow Homeland Security to deport immigrants before federal courts have decided on their case; make it more difficult for people fleeing torture to gain asylum; restrict access to driver's licenses and use of foreign identification including consular ID cards for immigrants in every state; and, increase border militarization and double the number of Border Patrol agents over the next five years.

Moni Alam, DRUM member and Bangladeshi immigrant, whose husband is facing deportation under Special Registrations, says, “Hasn’t this government already hurt us enough? If this law passed, millions of undocumented women, children, and families like us would live in more fear and more poverty because we can’t get ID’s to work or live in peace. We need the government to give us a legalization program that will let us live like human beings, not punish immigrant women, children, and families.”

In a public letter dated October 18, 2004 from the White House Administration to House and Senate members, Condoleeza Rice (National Security Advisor) expressed concern over the “overbroad expansion of expedited removal authorities…the provision addressing asylum…(and) overbroad alien identification standards imposed by the Bill”. It indicated that these sections, which may result in “unintended, adverse consequences”, should be modified or dropped altogether.

Further, the 9/11 Commission itself, in a letter issued on October 21, stressed that the immigration provisions "are not Commission recommendations" and stated that "we believe strongly that this bill is not the right occasion for tackling controversial immigration and law enforcement recommendations." That is, the House is manipulating an intelligence reform bill to sneak in harsh and unconstitutional measures which scapegoat and target immigrants rather than improving national security.

DRUM urges community members to call members of Congress and tell them:

"I want you to remove EVERY SINGLE immigration provision from the final 9/11 Commission bill. The immigration provisions strip people of basic Constitutional rights, and will tear millions of families apart. These provisions have NOTHING to do with national security."

Ask to speak with the Legislative Aid on the 9/11 Commission Bill in these offices:

1. Senator Mike DeWine from Ohio (202-224-2315) - Republican
2. Senator Joe Lieberman from Connecticut (202-224-4041) - Ranking Democrat
3. Senator Richard Durbin from Illinois (202-224-2152)
4. Senator Frank Lautenberg from New Jersey (202-224-3224)

DRUM—Desis Rising Up and Moving, located in Jackson Heights, Queens is a community-based organization of over 300 family and youth members, mostly South Asian and Muslim, directly affected by deportation, detention, and police harassment. Some of the information contained in this press release was obtained courtesy of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, San Francisco, California.

DESIS RISING UP & MOVING
72-26 Broadway, 4th Fl.
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Tel. (718) 205-3036
Fax (718) 205-3037
info@drumnation.org
www.drumnation.org

Posted by Konrad at 04:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Thursday, September 30, 2004 11:57 AM

ADC Press Release/Action Alert:

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has confirmed through federal government sources that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has initiated, or soon will initiate, specific enforcement actions in major metropolitan areas prior to the November 2nd Presidential election. This new ICE initiative is supposedly separate from the recent ADC alert about the voluntary interviews being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI.) However, ADC has confirmed that ICE's enforcement action is in fact, being carried out in conjunction with the FBI's latest initiative.

The ICE initiative consists of a stepped up effort to arrest a number of non-citizens whose immigration paperwork is "out of status." While ADC encourages and supports all measures to enhance our nation's security, ADC is troubled by the idea that immigration sweeps are being portrayed as successes in the war on terror. To date it is unclear whether the ICE initiative will be selectively carried out against Arabs and Muslims. ADC reiterates its strong objection to any selective enforcement initiative that is based solely on race, national origin, or religion.

Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE have failed to reach out to community leaders to communicate this matter or to address our concerns. This initiative damages efforts made at cooperating with the Arab-American community. ADC has actively worked to build bridges with multiple levels of law enforcement and the community through its successful national Law Enforcement Outreach Program (LEOP) and the ADC Michigan office's outreach program BRIDGES.

Furthermore, ADC, which is nonpartisan, hopes this ICE initiative will not be perceived by the community as intimidation to US citizens who may be relatives of those subjected to the enforcement action and may inhibit these citizens from voting, especially those newly registered to vote.

ADC suggests you contact the White House and the Department of Homeland Security to relay your concern and opposition to this new ICE initiative.

You may write to them online, via ADC website:
http://capwiz.com/adc/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=6480531

If you prefer to call, contact information is listed below.

ICE National Headquarters
Tel: 202-514-2648
Fax: 202-307-1918

White House
Tel: 202-456-1111
Fax: 202-456-2461
Email: president@whitehouse.gov

**************************************************

TO CONTRIBUTE TO AND/OR JOIN ADC, CLICK HERE:
https://www.adc.org/membership/

ADC: 25 Years of Dedicated Service to Civil and Human Rights 1980 - 2005

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
4201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 244-2990, Fax: (202) 244-3196
www.adc.org

Posted by Konrad at 04:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Sin Yen Ling, Esq.
212-966-5932

New York, New York – On September 17, 2004, CBS News reported that the FBI was planning to conduct rounds of interrogations, surveillance and possible detentions to deter possible disruptions around the Presidential elections. The FBI agents will be aggressively conducting surveillance of persons identified as terrorist sympathizers, but who have not committed any crime. Individuals and their family members may be called in for questioning. Mosques will be visited and members will be asked whether they have observed suspicious behavior. The so-called "October Plan" is scheduled to go into effect the first week of October and continue through the elections, according to CBS News.

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund ("AALDEF") is offering free legal advice and representation to concerned individuals approached by the FBI. AALDEF attorneys have represented persons caught up in previous rounds of the government's surveillance and questioning initiated by the FBI and NYPD Terrorism Task Force. For assistance, please contact AALDEF at:

1-800-966-5946
212-966-5932 x 213
Fax: 212-966-4303
Email: legal@aaldef.org
Emergency after 7:00 pm, call 917-533-0903

Individuals seeking legal assistance may also call to set up private, confidential meetings with AALDEF attorneys. All information will be kept confidential and in the custody of attorneys.

Founded in 1974, AALDEF protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans through litigation, legal advocacy, and community education in the areas of immigrant rights, economic justice for workers, voting rights and civic participation, affirmative action, language access to services, youth rights and educational equity and the elimination of hate violence and police misconduct.

Posted by Konrad at 04:42 PM | Permalink

Tuesday, August 31st – 12PM
26 Federal Plaza, Manhattan
Meet at Columbus Park – corner of Pearl and Bayard Streets - at 11AM. We will leave as a group for the BICE offices at 11:45AM.

The prison cops confiscated reading material and medicines as they kicked Abdel-Muhti to the ground, punched him, and told him to “shut the fuck up” and to “go back to Palestine.” The officers, who were not wearing name tags, pushed Abdel-Muhti against the wall on at least two occasions, kicked him to the ground, and punched him on the side of the head. They then confiscated his personal property, including papers, address books and medicine, which was prescribed by the prison clinic for high blood pressure and a thyroid condition.

-Report from the Committee for the Release of Farouk Abdel-Muhti, regarding an attack on Palestinian detainee Farouk Abdel-Muhti on November 19, 2003.

The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 have profoundly increased the racist policies of the United States government. In a feeble attempt to provide the public with an illusion of safety, the Bush administration has instituted new policies that have destroyed the lives and freedoms of millions with the pretext of “A War on Terrorism.”

This so-called "War on Terrorism" is not just being fought with foreign nations, as the news media would like us to believe. It is also being fought here at home, as thousands of individuals in the United States are being prosecuted and persecuted on the basis of their race, religion, and political beliefs by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Since the September 11th attacks, Bush and his Orwellian Department of Homeland Security have engaged in an illegal and racist program of round-ups and detentions. Thousands of men between the ages of 25 to 45 from South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa have been swept up and in many cases disappeared, spending years in jail without being charged with a crime.

Continue reading "Protest Racist Immigration Detentions, Remember Farouk" »

Posted by Konrad at 07:25 PM | Permalink

DRUM Immigrant Justice Rally & March!!!
When: Saturday, August 21st
12pm-5pm Rally
5pm Neighborhood March
Where: Near the 74th St/Roosevelt Train station in Jackson Heights, Queens
** WE HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING A PERMIT and are currently challenging the refusal by the Community Board 3 & 115th Precinct**

Join immigrant families and youth members of DRUM in raising the voices of people of color and immigrants against the ongoing WAR on Immigrants and WAR abroad! Support us in our fight to protest and organize as the city and cops prepare for the Republican National Convention.

The city is saying no, but we are moving forward...

TABLING by various NYC grassroots organizing groups!
Families SPEAK OUT against DEPORTATION!!
Collect signatures to win AMNESTY for immigrants!!
UNITE with other immigrant & communities of color!!
Send a message to BUSH AND KERRY to stop targeting immigrants & start respecting our dignity, labor, and rights to education, housing, and services without fear!

WE NEED YOUR HELP:

º Attend and bring your friends
º Outreach to your community- Pick Up flyers from DRUM office (availabe in Urdu, Bangla, Spanish, and English)
º Volunteer for the mela
º Contact politicians and media to attend & hear our demands

Call Namita or Shoshi to volunteer or support: DRUM- Desis Rising Up & Moving (718) 205-3036

SEE YOU THERE before the RNC!!!!

Posted by Konrad at 11:27 AM | Permalink

Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2004 15:45:39 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ahsanullah khan
Subject: August 16 Wackenhut hunger strike: press conference at 26 Federal Plaza

PRESS ADVISORY

Date: August 14th 2004
Contact: Madiha Tahir, Coney Island Avenue Project, (609) 439-1982

DETAINEES BEGIN HUNGER STRIKE TO DEMAND RIGHTS 200 immigrant detainees, who have been held despite the absence of criminal charges against them, will begin a one-day hunger strike at Wackenhut Detention Center in Queens to demand a case review and immediate release of non-criminal prisoners.

What: A press conference to announce a one day hunger strike by 200 immigrant detainees at Wackenhut Detention Center to demand the right to humane treatment, the right to due process, the right to access appropriate medical healthcare, the right to case review and immediate release of non-criminal prisoners, and family reunification. Speakers will include families of detainees and immigrants rights advocates.

When: Monday, August 16th 2004, 4pm.

Where: 26 Federal Plaza on Broadway between Duane and Worth (Manhattan)

More Information:

None of the prisoners currently being held at Wackenhut Detention Center have any terrorism related or other criminal charges against them. Yet, they are locked for 23 hours per day and several have been there for close to a year or more. These detainees were picked up in the aftermath of 9.11 and have been held without criminal charge or due process, and in some cases, without access to a lawyer or access to appropriate food and medical healthcare. Several of the detainees are married to US citizens.

The government refuses to release information on immigrant detentions. None of the immigrant detentions since 9.11 have yielded any useful results for Bush's "war on terror."

Private detention centers, of which Wackenhut is one, are earning large profits from the detention of immigrants and the current climate of racism against Arabs, Muslims, South Asians and immigrants generally. For example, detainees are being pressured to buy cafeteria food as the food served at the center is often insufficient and inadequate.

A previous hunger strike by inmates at Wackenhut ended with some prisoners being thrown in solitary confinement while others were transferred to other detention centers. That strike occurred approximately a year ago.

FAMILIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW.

For more information:
Coney Island Avenue Project, 718-859-0238 or 917-440-9002

Posted by Konrad at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We are asking you to take a few minutes on Monday, July 26, 2004, to remember Farouk by making phone calls or faxing letters in support of two other immigration detainees: Pakistani immigrant Ansar Mahmood, currently held in Batavia, NY, and Salim Yassir, a Palestinian who has been held in the Elizabeth Detention Center in NJ for four years.

We've included a sample letter about Salim Yassir. Thanks for your continued support.

1) For Ansar Mahmood:

Call the office of Department of Homeland Security head Tom Ridge at 202-282-8000 and ask him not to deport Ansar Mahmood.

Ansar was a legal resident in the Hudson Valley area arrested soon after 9/11 because he wanted a photo of local scenery to send back to family in Pakistan; the scenery included a reservoir. After establishing that Ansar was not in fact a terrorist, the government used minor violations under rarely enforced immigration laws as a pretext for ordering Ansar's deportation. His supporters, along with a number of members of Congress, have asked Homeland Security to grant Ansar deferred action status, which would permit him to stay in the US and return to his job as a pizza delivery person.

In addition, contact your senator and/or representative and ask them to put pressure on Mr. Ridge to stop Ansar's deportation. (Call 1-800-839-5276).

For more information: Bob Elmendorf, 518-766-2992, poetapoetus@earthlink.net, http://www.chathampeace.org

2) For Salim Yassir:

Fax: John Tsoukaris, United States Department of Homeland Security US-ICE Headquarters Post-Order Detention Unit, fax # 202-353-9435

Ask him to release Salim Yassir (A78 820 978) since there is no possibility of his removal from the US. Both Israel and the PLO have confirmed in writing that, pursuant to the Oslo Accords, Salim is ineligible for repatriation into the territories or Israel proper. He has two sponsors who will provide him with housing, job training/assistance and food and will take responsibility to ensure that he obeys any terms of supervised release.

For more information: contact Teresa Woods, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc, 973-733-3516 X208, clinicteresa@aol.com or Joshua Bardavid, Law Office of Theodore N. Cox, 212-925-1208, JEB7006@aol.com

***

SAMPLE LETTER:

John Tsoukaris
United States Department of Homeland Security
US-ICE Headquarters Post-Order Detention Unit
801 I Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20536
Fax # 202-353-9435

RE: YASSIR, Salim, A78 820 978

Dear Mr. Tsoukaris:

I am writing on behalf of Mr. Salim Yassir who has been detained for four years at the Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey. I strongly believe that Mr. Yassir should be released immediately from the detention center, into the care and supervision of his sponsors.

Mr. Yassir has been awaiting deportation since his arrival in the United States in 2000, yet there is no possibility of removal since both Israel and the PLO have confirmed in writing that, pursuant to the Oslo Accords, Mr. Yassir is ineligible for repatriation into the territories or Israel proper.

Mr. Yassir is a non-criminal, non-violent detainee who has maintained an impeccable record of behavior while in detention. He has also provided the government with two sponsors who will provide him with housing, job training/assistance, and food. In addition, these sponsors have stated that they will take responsibility to ensure that Mr. Yassir obeys any terms of supervised release.

Mr. Yassir's continued detention costs taxpayers $155.00 per day, as estimated by the government. His detention is a waste of taxpayer money, particularly since Mr. Yassir presents no danger to society and has provided suitable alternatives to detention, through his sponsors.

Finally, Mr. Yassir has been detained for four years in a facility that was intended for short-term detentions. There are no outdoor areas, so Mr. Yassir has not seen the light of day since 2000.

Please release Mr. Salim Yassir from the Elizabeth Detention Center.

Sincerely,

=======================================
Committee for the Release of Farouk Abdel-Muhti
PO Box 20587, Tompkins Square Station, New York, NY 10009
Phone: 212-674-9499 * Email freefarouk@yahoo.com
Websites: www.freefarouk.org * freefarouk.netfirms.com
=======================================

Posted by Konrad at 02:08 PM | Permalink

Protest the illegal detentions of immigrants & civil rights abuses!

Wednesday, July 28th
Passaic County jail
Main St & Grand St.
Paterson, NJ

This action is being held in memory of Farouk Abdel-Muhti our brother who passed away on July 21st.

Brother Farouk never gave up under any conditions for the fight for justice and freedom even while detained at Passaic County jail. He organized detainees and continued his fight against illegal detentions and abuse detainees are encountering inside the prison system across America and the secret detention centers worldwide.

Called by The Inclusive Democracy Project contact :
johnsargis@hotmail.com

Posted by Konrad at 01:58 PM | Permalink

1. 7/24 SAT, 10 am: Prayer Service for Farouk

A Memorial and Prayer Service to Honor and Commemorate the Passing of Our Beloved Brother Farouk Abdel-Muhti

When: Saturday, July 24, 2004 at 10 am
Where: The Islamic Cultural Center
1711 Third Avenue, Manhattan
(between 96th and 97th Streets; take the #6 train to 96th Street and walk one block east to Third Avenue)

Open to the public; everyone welcome. Appropriate attire required (no shorts or short skirts; upper arms and shoulders should be covered; women are asked to cover their hair).

For more information, please contact:

Tarek Abdel-Muhti, 718-491-0321
Sharin Chiorazzo, 201-951-6919
Nicaragua Solidarity Network, 212-674-9499
Emails: nicadlw@earthlink.net or abufkheida@maktoob.com

We will be holding another memorial for Farouk in the future, probably in August. We will notify you as soon as plans are confirmed.

=========================================

2. Donations for funeral expenses

Donations are requested to help cover funeral expenses. Please make checks payable to CHRI (Coalition for the Human Rights of Immigrants), write "Farouk" on the memo line, and send to CHRI, 330 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10012. (Any excess funds will go toward work against immigration detention and toward assistance for Farouk's family.) These contributions are not tax-deductible.

=========================================

3. 7/26 MON: Honor Farouk with solidarity for detainees

Farouk was a fighter who spoke out--literally to his last hour--for the rights of immigrants and for peace with justice in Palestine. There is no better way we can honor his memory than by carrying on his work.

We are asking you to take a few minutes on Monday, July 26, 2004, to remember Farouk by making phone calls or faxing letters in support of two other immigration detainees: Pakistani immigrant Ansar Mahmood, currently held in Batavia, NY, and Salim Yassir, a Palestinian who has been held in the Elizabeth Detention Center in NJ for four years. Immigration authorities undermined Farouk's health by holding him unlawfully for two years; let's work to stop them from doing the same to other immigrants.

For Ansar Mahmood:

Call the office of Department of Homeland Security head Tom Ridge at 202-282-8000 and ask him not to deport Ansar Mahmood.

Ansar was a legal resident in the Hudson Valley area arrested soon after 9/11 because he wanted a photo of local scenery to send back to family in Pakistan; the scenery included a reservoir. After establishing that Ansar was not in fact a terrorist, the government used minor violations under rarely enforced immigration laws as a pretext for ordering Ansar's deportation. His supporters, along with a number of members of Congress, have asked Homeland Security to grant Ansar deferred action status, which would permit him to stay in the US and return to his job as a pizza delivery person.

In addition, contact your senator and/or representative and ask them to put pressure on Mr. Ridge to stop Ansar's deportation. (Call 1-800-839-5276).

For more information: Bob Elmendorf, 518-766-2992, poetapoetus@earthlink.net, http://www.chathampeace.org

For Salim Yassir:

Fax: John Tsoukaris, United States Department of Homeland Security US-ICE Headquarters Post-Order Detention Unit, fax # 202-353-9435

Ask him to release Salim Yassir (A78 820 978) since there is no possibility of his removal from the US. Both Israel and the PLO have confirmed in writing that, pursuant to the Oslo Accords, Salim is ineligible for repatriation into the territories or Israel proper. He has two sponsors who will provide him with housing, job training/assistance and food and will take responsibility to ensure that he obeys any terms of supervised release.

For more information and a sample letter: contact Teresa Woods, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc, 973-733-3516 X208, clinicteresa@aol.com or Joshua Bardavid, Law Office of Theodore N. Cox, 212-925-1208, JEB7006@aol.com

=========================================
Committee for the Release of Farouk Abdel-Muhti
PO Box 20587, Tompkins Square Station, New York, NY 10009
Phone: 212-674-9499 * Email freefarouk@yahoo.com
Websites: www.freefarouk.org * freefarouk.netfirms.com

=========================================

Posted by Konrad at 04:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

2. TUE 7/13 Vigil at Batavia: Protest DHS Decision to Deport Ansar Mahmood

Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2004 00:33:21 -0400
From: susan davies

PROTEST BICE/DHS DECISION TO DEPORT ANSAR MAHMOOD

Next Tuesday, July 13 starting at 8 p.m. a peaceful Vigil will begin in
front of the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia, NY to protest
BICE/DHS's decision to refuse Ansar Mahmood's request for deferred action.
We invite everyone who can make it to come out to Batavia to protest against
this injustice. The vigil will continue throughout the night and the
following days.

Rajesh Barnabas of Rochester and Rev. Richard Rose of Batavia are the
central organizers for this protest. You can check our website www.chathampeace.org for updates on arrangements for the event. If you are
coming from the Columbia County or Albany/Capital District area, please call me (Susan) at 518-392-9477 so we can coordinate times and transportation.

This case is being watched throughout the world. Over the last week, since
Mr. Cleary's letter of refusal became public, the story has been publicized all over the US, Asia and the Middle East. Now it is important for us to make clear that we as Americans object to our government's harsh and unfair treatment of immigrants in this country. In his letter, Mr. Cleary stated more than once that Ansar Mahmood is in no way connected to terrorism and yet then went on to say that he "posed a serious threat to national security." This contradiction is a clear example of the way in which our government is using the pervasive national fear of terrorism to target immigrants. About three quarters of the detainees in the Batavia Facility are there with deported charges. None of them is "a serious threat tonational security."

We are making two demands: 1. Tom Ridge of the Department of Homeland
Security should reverse William Cleary's decision and allow Ansar Mahmood to
return to Columbia County, NY

2. Our government on all levels must change its harsh immigration policies which have resulted in well over a million deportations over the last seven years causing untold physical and financial hardship and heartache for families, individuals and communities all over this country and the world.

Continue reading "Protest DHS Decision to Deport Ansar Mahmood" »

Posted by Konrad at 02:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

THU 7/15 Hearing in Philly: Urge Release of Palestinian Salim Y.

From: Clinicteresa@aol.com
Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2004 16:35:40 EDT

What: Pack the Court!!!

When: Thursday July 15th, 2004, at 10:00am

Where: Third Circuit Court of Appeals, 601 Market Street, 19th Floor
(corner of Market and 6th Streets) Albert Branson Maris Courtroom located in Philadelphia, PA.

Why: As a show of support for indefinite detainee Salim Y. who has been held in the Elizabeth Detention Center for 4 years.

Let the government know that you oppose the indefinite detention and poor treatment of arriving aliens.

Continue reading "Urge Release of Palestinian Salim Y." »

Posted by Konrad at 02:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

CHRI urges supporters of immigrant rights to take immediate action on this
case. Please note that Ansar is being deported allegedly because he helped some friends who had overstayed their visas. Many millions of people in the U.S. are out-of-status--our relatives, our friends, our neighbors, ourselves. If helping out a friend is a crime, will they arrest us all?

Please note that the date and phone number on this urgent action have been
corrected over earlier versions. The urgent action is followed by articles from
yesterday's Washington Post and New York Times.

Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2004 09:57:37 -0400
From: Susan Davies

A terrible decision, but it's NOT over!

Department of Homeland Security Decides to Deport Ansar Mahmood
CALL IN! To Urge the Government to RECONSIDER
Friday, July 2, 2004, from 2pm to 4pm.

In the same week that the Supreme Court ruled to uphold the rights of detainees, the Department of Homeland Security has denied indefinite detainee Ansar Mahmood his own freedom. Thousands of people in the United States and abroad have expressed support for this young Pakistani, who lived and worked in the U.S. legally until he was taken by the government in the post 9/11 sweeps. But the District Director of Immigration & Customs Enforcement has turned a deaf ear to Ansar's community. We need the government - our government - to reconsider.

Please help us by making one phone call THIS FRIDAY, JULY 2nd FROM 2-4 PM to Victor Cerda, Detention & Removal Office, 202-514-8663 [corrected #] or
202-305-2734 or FAX Mr. Cerda at any time during the day at 202-306-9659.

Please be polite in your comments. Below is a statement you can use:

*** I urge the Department of Homeland Security to reconsider its decision in
the case of Ansar Mahmood, a young Pakistani man caught in the post 9/11
dragnet. Before being detained he was living and delivering pizza in Hudson,
NY. His community and his supporters around the world have been fighting for
his freedom for 2 years. Ansar has hundreds of letters of support from
individuals and NGOs, as well as the support of eight U.S. senators and 20
members of Congress! District Director William Cleary just issued a decision
denying Ansar's request for deferred action. Please reverse this decision and
return Ansar to his American community. ***

For more information on how to support this campaign, contact:
* Ansar Mahmood Defense Committee: Susan Davies @ 518.392.9477 or Bob Elmendorf @ 518.766.2992. Also see www.chathampeace.org
* Families for Freedom: Aarti Shahani @ 212.898.4121

And, please, pass this on to others who might be sympathetic to Ansar Mahmood's cause. Thanks!

Continue reading "CALL IN! To Urge the Government to RECONSIDER Ansar Mahmood's deportation" »

Posted by Konrad at 12:44 PM | Permalink

FBI ABDUCTS ARTIST, SEIZES ART
Feds Unable to Distinguish Art from Bioterrorism
Grieving Artist Denied Access to Deceased Wife's Body

DEFENSE FUND ESTABLISHED - HELP URGENTLY NEEDED

Steve Kurtz was already suffering from one tragedy when he called 911
early in the morning to tell them his wife had suffered a cardiac arrest
and died in her sleep. The police arrived and, cranked up on the rhetoric
of the "War on Terror," decided Kurtz's art supplies were actually
bioterrorism weapons.

Thus began an Orwellian stream of events in which FBI agents abducted
Kurtz without charges, sealed off his entire block, and confiscated his
computers, manuscripts, art supplies... and even his wife's body.

Like the case of Brandon Mayfield, the Muslim lawyer from Portland
imprisoned for two weeks on the flimsiest of false evidence, Kurtz's case
amply demonstrates the dangers posed by the USA PATRIOT Act coupled with
government-nurtured terrorism hysteria.

Kurtz's case is ongoing, and, on top of everything else, Kurtz is facing a
mountain of legal fees. Donations to his legal defense can be made at
http://www.rtmark.com/CAEdefense/

FEAR RUN AMOK

Steve Kurtz is Associate Professor in the Department of Art at the State
University of New York's University at Buffalo, and a member of the
internationally-acclaimed Critical Art Ensemble.

Kurtz's wife, Hope Kurtz, died in her sleep of cardiac arrest in the early
morning hours of May 11. Police arrived, became suspicious of Kurtz's art
supplies and called the FBI.

Within hours, FBI agents had "detained" Kurtz as a suspected bioterrorist
and cordoned off the entire block around his house. (Kurtz walked away the
next day on the advice of a lawyer, his "detention" having proved to be
illegal.) Over the next few days, dozens of agents in hazmat suits, from a
number of law enforcement agencies, sifted through Kurtz's work, analyzing
it on-site and impounding computers, manuscripts, books, equipment, and
even his wife's body for further analysis. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Health
Department condemned his house as a health risk.

Kurtz, a member of the Critical Art Ensemble, makes art which addresses
the politics of biotechnology. "Free Range Grains," CAE's latest project,
included a mobile DNA extraction laboratory for testing food products for
possible transgenic contamination. It was this equipment which triggered
the Kafkaesque chain of events.

FBI field and laboratory tests have shown that Kurtz's equipment was not
used for any illegal purpose. In fact, it is not even _possible_ to use
this equipment for the production or weaponization of dangerous germs.
Furthermore, any person in the US may legally obtain and possess such
equipment.

"Today, there is no legal way to stop huge corporations from putting
genetically altered material in our food," said Defense Fund spokeswoman
Carla Mendes. "Yet owning the equipment required to test for the presence
of 'Frankenfood' will get you accused of 'terrorism.' You can be illegally
detained by shadowy government agents, lose access to your home, work, and
belongings, and find that your recently deceased spouse's body has been
taken away for 'analysis.'"

Though Kurtz has finally been able to return to his home and recover his
wife's body, the FBI has still not returned any of his equipment,
computers or manuscripts, nor given any indication of when they will. The
case remains open.

HELP URGENTLY NEEDED

A small fortune has already been spent on lawyers for Kurtz and other
Critical Art Ensemble members. A defense fund has been established at
http://www.rtmark.com/CAEdefense/ to help defray the legal costs which
will continue to mount so long as the investigation continues. Donations
go directly to the legal defense of Kurtz and other Critical Art Ensemble
members. Should the funds raised exceed the cost of the legal defense, any
remaining money will be used to help other artists in need.

To make a donation, please visit http://www.rtmark.com/CAEdefense/

For more information on the Critical Art Ensemble, please visit
http://www.critical-art.net/

Articles about the case:
http://www.rtmark.com/CAEdefense/news-WKBW-2.html
http://www.rtmark.com/CAEdefense/news-WKBW.html

On advice of counsel, Steve Kurtz is unable to answer questions regarding
his case. Please direct questions or comments to Carla Mendes
<CAEdefense@rtmark.com>.

Posted by Konrad at 10:31 AM | Permalink

Saturday, May 22, 2004, 6:30 pm-10 pm
At St. Mary's Episcopal Church
521 West 126th Street in Manhattan
(take the 1/9 train to 125th Street)

New York-area Palestinian activist Farouk Abdel-Muhti kissed the ground when he arrived at LaGuardia airport on the night of April 12, 2004 after being held in prison for two years by US
immigration authorities. Farouk was not charged with any crime.

The only pretext for holding him was a 1995 order for his deportation--even though the government knew that it was unlikely to succeed in deporting a stateless Palestinian like Farouk.

Farouk was arrested on April 26, 2002, a month after he began volunteering regularly at WBAI-FM, arranging interviews with Palestinian spokespeople at a time when the Israeli military was invading West Bank cities and towns.

During his time in detention, Farouk's health deteriorated significantly. But his spirit is still strong, and he's already back in the struggle for justice, arranging more interviews at WBAI and speaking out at events. Join us as we welcome him back!

Homecoming Party/Celebration/Fundraiser with:

SHANE KADIDAL, Center for Constitutional Rights & Farouk's Legal Team

CHARLOTTE KATES, activist with New Jersey Solidarity

LYNNE STEWART, prominent civil rights attorney

BERNARD WHITE, host of "Wakeup Call" on WBAI-FM

Videos! Music! Middle Eastern Food!

$10 donation requested. (Checks can be made payable to "Nicaragua Solidarity Network," with "Farouk" in the memo line, and mailed
to the Committee for the Release of Farouk Abdel-Muhti at the address below.)

CELEBREMOS LA LIBERTAD DE FAROUK ABDEL-MUHTI!

Sábado 22 de mayo, 2004, 6:30 - 10 pm
en la iglesia "St. Mary's Episcopal Church"
en 521 de la calle 126 oeste (521 W 126 St) en Manhattan (tren 1/9 a la estacion "125 St")

Farouk Abdel-Muhti, un activista palestino residente en Nueva York, besó la tierra cuando llegó al aeropuerto LaGuardia la noche del 12 de abril, 2004, después de pasar dos años
encarcelado por las autoridades de inmigración de Estados Unidos. Farouk no enfrentaba ningun cargo criminal. El único
pretexto para su detención fue un orden de deportación que data de 1995--aunque el gobierno ya sabía que no podía deportar a un
palestino sin país como es Farouk.

Arrestaron a Farouk el 26 de abril, 2002, un mes después de que empezó a trabajar como voluntario en la estación de radio WBAI-
FM, organizando entrevistas con voceros palestinos en un momento en que las fuerzas armadas israelies estaban invadiendo a las
ciudades y pueblos de Cisjordania.

Durante dos años de detención, la salud de Farouk deterioró de manera significante. Pero su espíritu sigue fuerte, y ya volvió
a la lucha por la justicia,organizando más entrevistas en WBAI y hablando en actas públicas. Unase a la bienvenida para Farouk!

Fiesta de bienvenida, celebración y recaudación de fondos con:

SHANE KADIDAL, Center for Constitutional Rights & Equipo Legal de Farouk

CHARLOTTE KATES, activista con New Jersey Solidarity

LYNNE STEWART, conocida abogada de derechos civiles

BERNARD WHITE, presentador, "Wakeup Call," WBAI-FM

Videos, música, y comida del medio oriente!

Donación sugerida: $10. (Se puede hacer cheques a nombre de "Nicaragua Solidarity Network," escriba "Farouk" en la linea de
memo, y envie al Comite por la Libertad de Farouk Abdel-Muhti a la dirección abajo.)

Committee for the Release of Farouk Abdel-Muhti
PO Box 20587, Tompkins Square Station, New York, NY 10009

Phone: 212-674-9499
freefarouk@yahoo.com

www.freefarouk.org
freefarouk.netfirms.com

Posted by Konrad at 11:17 AM | Permalink

Thanks to your help, the campaign against Ansar Mahmood's deportation (see fact sheet below and http://www.chathampeace.org ) has gained the support of elected officials including Congressmen Rangel and Hinchey, and Senators Schumer and Clinton. The Washington Post, the Guardian, and NBC are among the dozens of domestic and international media outlets that have spoken out against the detention and deportation of this young Pakistani man who was caught in the post 9/11 dragnet. We have collected hundreds of letters of support, asking Homeland Security to free Ansar. Now we need to
step up the pressure - one last time.

Ansar has been detained administratively for over 2 years. His fight in the courts is over. The Department of Homeland Security must decide in the next few days whether to ship Ansar to Pakistan, or let him rejoin his community here by granting him deferred action (a status that allows him to return to his life & work in upstate New York).

Please help us THIS THURSDAY, MAY 20th FROM 2-4 P.M. by calling the officials who decide Ansar's fate. (If it's impossible for you to call
during those hours, please call at another time during that day.) Below are the numbers to two key officials, and a statement you can read to
express your support:

*** I urge the Department of Homeland Security to grant deferred action to Ansar Mahmood, a young Pakistani man caught in the post 9/11
dragnet. Before being detained he was living and delivering pizza in Hudson, NY. His community and his supporters around the world have been
fighting for his freedom for 2 years. I am outraged that the government is pouring my tax dollars into the detention and deportation of our neighbors and friends. Give Ansar back!***

CALL IN TO:

*Victor Cerda
Detention & Removal Office
202.305.2734 or 202.514.4922

*Bill Cleary
Buffalo Immigration & Customs Enforcement
716.551.4741 x 2530

For more information on how to support this campaign, contact:

* Ansar Mahmood Defense Committee:
Susan Davies @ 518.392.9477 or
Bob Elmendorf @ 518.766.2992

* Families for Freedom:
Aarti Shahani @ 212.898.4121
Also see www.chathampeace.org

And, please, pass this on to others who might be sympathetic to Ansar Mahmood's cause. Thanks!

Continue reading "CALL IN DAY FOR ANSAR MAHMOOD" »

Posted by Konrad at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)