FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
September 5, 2003 Stanley Cohen
Zuhair Nubani

Palestinian Professor Held in Witch Hunt

Alexandria, VA—Following an eerily common practice repeated by opportunistic federal prosecutors around the country, Dr. Abdulhaleem Ashqar was ordered to surrender himself under a civil contempt citation by federal judge Charles Korcoras in Chicago. Dr. Ashqar released the following statement:
I am committed to respecting the laws of this great country. I am neither harboring any fugitives nor covering up any criminal wrongdoing. My conscience is clear and does not allow me to be a pawn in a witch hunt by those who would abuse the law. I am not the first to go to prison for his or her beliefs and will not be the last. Let the record be clear: I have not been accused of any wrongdoing and not charged with any crime. As long as there is injustice in Palestine, I refuse to allow my statements to be used against my people, and I will remain in jail until the Court in its wisdom sets me free.

For more information about Dr. Ashqar’s case, please see the attached.

WHO IS DR. ABDULHALEEM ASHQAR?

On September 5, 2003, Dr. Abdulhaleem Ashqar was arrested by US Marshals under the order of civil contempt by US District Judge Charles Kocoras for the US District Court of Northern Illinois in Chicago.

Background Dr. Abdulhaleem Ashqar is a 45-year-old business administration professor and Muslim community leader living in Falls Church, VA who has dedicated his career to intellectual achievement and Islamic activism. A resident in the US for over 14 years, he has traveled extensively across the US devoted to this cause.

Leadership Throughout his career, he has started an educational charity organization, Muslim organization, led his local masjid, and organized meetings and conferences on a just and lasting peace for Palestine.

Devotion A family man, Dr. Ashqar and his wife have dedicated their lives to helping others enjoy a life free from occupation, fear and pain. A community leader, he has worked tirelessly to ensure good relations among neighbors.

WHAT IS HE ACCUSED OF?

No Charges Since 1996, when a federal grand jury in New York investigated Palestinian Muslims in the US, federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials have never accused or charged Dr. Ashqar with any crime.

Witch Hunt In 1998 in New York and again in August 2003 in Chicago, Dr. Ashqar was found to be in civil contempt for his refusal to submit to witch hunts disguised as grand juries.

Faulty Logic Incarceration is a means to compel testimony from one who is likely to submit to the coercion. For Dr. Ashqar, who is willing to die for his cause in jail on hunger strike, civil contempt is unnecessary and counter-productive.

Intimidation In a sign of desperation, unable to find any evidence of wrong-doing on the part of Dr. Ashqar, prosecutors have bullied him with the threat of indefinite imprisonment. Knowing of his strong stance against testifying and with his prior incarceration, such a tactic is unheard of in a case involving no criminal activity.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOU?

All Muslims a Target Whether or not you are a professor, medical doctor, run your own business, lead your local Muslim community or are involved in peaceful causes, this case impacts all Muslim Americans. Any grand jury in America can force you to leave your home, travel across the country at tremendous expense and subject you to indefinite successive terms of 18 months in federal prison, WITH NO CHARGES.

Perilous Prosecutions If Dr. Ashqar can be so arbitrarily put away, the precedents and tactics used in this case can serve to deprive any Muslim in America of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Grand Jury Abuse Since April 2002, this federal grand jury in Chicago has:
• Manufactured a terrorism case against BIF Founder Enaam Arnaout which was rejected by Judge Conlon in Chicago;
• Investigated a Who’s Who of the American Muslim community in a desperate open-ended witch hunt to show the American people that the war in terror is yielding results;
• Been composed of ordinary Americans least interested in the cases, but nevertheless allowing themselves to become pawns of an over-zealous federal prosecutor looking to advance his career at the expense of innocent people.
• Jumped from opportunity to opportunity, from al-Qaeda to Hamas to Saddam and back to Palestinians, with no national security or legal benefit to the American people.

High Price to Pay Each day in Ashcroft's America, your Muslim relative, friend or neighbor can be next.

Please send contributions to: Free Dr. Ashqar Committee, P.O. Box 151264, Alexandria, VA 22315-1264

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: http://www.free-ashqar.org