Press Release

(Alexandria, VA. May 12, 2004) – Dr. Abdelhaleem Ashqar had a status hearing in the district court in Chicago in front of Federal Judge Amy St. Eve. Judge Eve. Agreed to change the trial date from June 14th, 2004 to September 20th, 2004 per the request of the defense team and scheduled another status hearing in June 21st, 2004. In the meantime, Judge Eve denied a motion to relax the conditions of release for Dr. Ashqar. These conditions are: Electronic monitoring (leg bracelet); curfew in which Dr. Ashqar is not allowed to leave his home between 11:00pm until 5:00am; travel restriction as well as one million dollar bail.

Background: 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. 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.

The community is urged to continue their moral and financial support for Dr. Ashqar’s legal defense fund 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.