With the grace of ALLAH, Dr. Ashqar and his codefendant Br. M. Salah were acquitted on February 1, 2007 by a federal jury of the racketeering conspiracy charge (i.e. terrorism-financing charges). This acquittal came at the end of four months trial that took place in Chicago , IL . Alhamdulillah, now brothers Ashqar and Salah will no longer have to face the prospect of life prison terms unjustly for merely exercising their first amendment rights of freedom of speech.
Free Dr. Ashqar Committee (FDAC) wishes to extend its appreciation for our communities across the nation for their continuous support throughout this long ordeal, whether by their moral or financial support. May Allah reward you for such support.
Free Dr. Ashqar Committee (FDAC) also thanks the entire legal defense team, lead by Mr. Bill Moffit, for their diligences and hard work on this case. Mr. Moffit now has two back-to-back victories on unjust cases that are brought against (2) Palestinian political activists in the US .
This ruling does not yet mean that the case against Dr. Ashqar is behind us. Free Dr. Ashqar Committee (FDAC) is still in need of your financial support as it continues facing major financial crisis including:
In addition, Dr. Ashqar was convicted on the 2 lesser charges (of obstruction of justice and criminal contempt for refusing to testify in front of a grand jury), which the committee is intending to fight. Sentencing in these charges is set for June 2007.
FDAC is once again calling upon our generous communities across the US to continue their moral and financial support for Dr. Ashqar’s legal defense fund.
For further information on the latest developments on this case, and for credit card donations, please visit FDAC website (http://www.free-ashqar.org). Donations by checks and money orders can be mailed to FDAC’s address above.
Free Dr. Ashqar Committee (FDAC)
Post Office Box 151264
Alexandria , Virginia 22315
"The Bush administration cannot win this war by trying to make criminals out of people who are fighting for their freedom," "And two American juries have said that." (William Moffitt, Ashqar's attorney) – Chicago Tribune, February 2, 2007
"It is very hard for an American jury to find people guilty if they're fighting for their rights," “the government mistakenly tried to turn the Mideast conflict into a battle of criminal law in an American courtroom." (William Moffitt) – Chicago Tribune, February 2, 2007
"This is a great day for justice," "It's a huge victory--what's left is a relatively minor charge." (Michael Deutsch, Salah's attorney) - Chicago Tribune, February 2, 2007
"This rejects the idea we can criminalize someone for resisting an illegal occupation in another country," (Michael Deutsch) - Washington Post, February 2, 2007
"I think the jury rejected this idea that you can criminalize this kind of organizing activity under RICO [Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act] in the U.S. ," he said. "It's a stretch." (Michael Deutsch) – Chicago Tribune, February 2, 2007
"Our community will no longer have to be afraid," "I'm so glad that American people--his peers--gave a verdict that shows he couldn't have done this." (Amira Daoud, Chicago community member). – Chicago Tribune, February 2, 2007
"They (the government) were basically trying to do Israel 's work" "They were using Israeli agents, [coerced] confessions, in an American courtroom. It's un-American." (Abdullah Salah, Salah's cousin) – Chicago Tribune, February 2, 2007
"There was a lot of evidence to go through, a lot of documentary evidence to go through," "The law was complex. In the end I think we came up with a unanimous verdict that is as fair as we could have possibly rendered." (Max Lapertosa, juror on the case) – Chicago Tribune, February 2, 2007
"We've never prosecuted a case like this," "I don't know if there will ever be another case prosecuted in this district with facts like these." (Gary Shapiro, First Assistant U.S. Attorney) - Daily Southtown, February 2, 2007