Update on Br. Abdelhaleem Ashqar

February 18, 2008

Dear Friends: AA,

Dr. Ashqar was transferred last month from Chicago to Memphis, Tennessee federal facility, where he begins his sentencing and awaits the appeal procedure.

He is allowed and he does call home almost daily. He is in a good spirit and he send his greetings to all community members and friends and he thanks them for their support and asks them to keep him in their Du'aa.

FDAC have met with Mr. Moffit, Dr. Ashqar's lead attorney in January, and he provided the following timetable for Dr. Ashqar's appeal proceedings:

Schedule for Appeal:

• 1st Briefing - 3/10/08 (Ashqar legal team presents appeal argument)
• Gov't Response - 4/09/08
• Ashqar's Response - 4/23/08
• The judge will then set the date for oral briefing and argument which most likely be in May/June '08 time-frame.

Mr. Moffit indicated that in legal terms, Dr. Ashqar should not have received this severe sentencing and he feels positive about the appeal process outcome. He also indicated that since the sentencing in November 2007, he has been contacted by many lawyers that expressed their support to Dr. Ashqar's legal team and at the same time, have expressed their dismay of how unfair the sentencing process ended.

FDAC have always maintained that Dr. Ashqar's trial (and then sentencing) was politically driven to stop the voices of activists and to appease a foreign government. We ask the community to continue their moral and financial support to Dr. Ashqar. Never underestimate the power of Du'aa.

Update on Financial Standing:

The old financial obligation have been reduced from $260,000 (outstanding debts to community members and legal defense team of Mr. Moffitt) to $180,000. The reduction was a result of a large payment made to the legal team in early January that have closed all previous legal fees up to sentencing in last November 2007. The legal fees to cover the appeal process was never included in the original negotiated agreement and we have retained the legal services of Mr. Moffit for the appeal phase of the trial. Initially, we have indicated that the appeal process legal fees are in the $50,000 range. After meeting with Mr. Moffit, he indicated that it could easily be double this amount. We need to budget an amount in the range of $75,000 to $100,000. This amount is in addition to the remaining old financial obligations to pay the outstanding debts to community members of $180,000.

Please make your check payable to: Free Dr. Ashqar Committee and mail to:

FDAC
P.O. Box 151264
Alexandria , Virginia
22315-1264

Donations can also be made on line:

http://www.free-ashqar.org/