Press Release

(Alexandria, VA., March 19, 2004) - In October, 2003, Dr. Abdelhaleem Ashqar was indicted on criminal contempt to punish him for refusing to testify in front of a Grand Jury in Chicago against his fellow Palestinians and Muslims. The trial is scheduled to start on June 14th, 2004 in Chicago. Recently, Dr. Ashqar retained two renowned and well respected attorneys - Mr. Michael Kennedy from New York and Mr. Thomas Durkin from Chicago to represent him on his ongoing case.

Dr. Ashqar and “Free Dr. Ashqar Committee” (FDAC) extend their thanks to Mr. Stanley Cohen, the former attorney in the case. The community is urged to continue their moral and financial support for Dr. Ashqar because the outcome of his case is critical to our community. If we don’t join hands to support him on his commendable stance, the government will assume that it can continue this line of harassment against our fellow Muslims and Palestinians to suppress our rights to freedom of speech and political affiliation.

Abdelhaleem Ashqar
ashqar@aol.com
www.free-ashqar.org