THE SHAMELESSNESS OF POLITICS

After the many years of harassment and targeting of constitutionally protected activities the Government again is torturing Dr. Ashqar. He was arrested in his home on August 19, 2004 on a superceding indictment claming that he is part of a criminal conspiracy to aid Hamas. In a terse hearing On August 20th Magistrate Judge Buchanan ordered that he be held pending his transfer to Chicago where the indictment originated. On August 26, 2004 District Court Judge St Eve decided to continue to hold him until he can have a detention hearing in mid September. Some feel that he was denied bond to avoid any negative publicity during the Republican convention set to begin on August 27, 2004.

Most of the alleged activities presented in the indictment against Dr. Ashqar occur before 1994, a time when Hamas was not designated as a terrorist organization. Moreover the alleged activities even if true were lawful activities. In order to avoid statute of limitation problems the Government alleges that Dr. Ashqar’s refusal to testify before two grand juries are overt acts in support of the criminal conspiracy of racketeering.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

Mr. Ismail Elbarasse was arrested on Friday August 20, 2004 under the pretext that his family had been observed videotaping the Bay Bridge in Maryland. He was arrested on a material witness warrant. He has not been charged in the indictment.

His family was held for several hours while the material witness warrant was issued. No one could go to the bathroom without an escort. One police officer said in the presence of others at the police station “these are mine”. As if he has caught big terrorists.