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<font size="-1"><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">[what a
gawd-forsaken country this is; folks, are you willing to let your govt
torture to death a beautiful human being - even tho he had the audacity
to speak for justice? express your outrage;<br>
forward far and wide, to every corner of the earth]<br>
<br>
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<div class="moz-text-plain" wrap="true" graphical-quote="true"
style="font-family: -moz-fixed; font-size: 12px;" lang="x-western"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.freesamialarian.com/pet.php"><img
alt="" src="cid:part1.09000701.08010401@mynas.com" align="right"
border="0" height="201" hspace="10" width="500"></a><font
face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice
and Peace<br>
April 16, 2008<br>
<br>
<b>Take Action: call 757-488-7500<br>
</b>And if you haven't already,<b> sign the petition:
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.freesamialarian.com/pet.php">http://www.freesamialarian.com/pet.php</a><br>
<br>
</b><b>Dr. Al-Arian Faces Shocking Abuse in New Facility</b><br>
<br>
Yesterday morning, Dr. Sami Al-Arian was transported by immigration
agents to the Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Since arriving at the facility, he has been subjected to numerous,
shocking abuses, even worse than those he experienced at a detention
center in Maryland. <br>
<br>
When Dr. Al-Arian arrived at Hampton Roads Jail, he was initially
placed in the general population and given a standard green uniform.
Hours later, however, he was placed in segregation unit. Officials told
him that he was placed on suicide watch because he was not eating. Dr.
Al-Arian is on the 45th day of a hunger strike to protest the
government's refusal to honor its agreement and release him.<br>
<br>
After placing him on suicide watch, prison guards confiscated all of
Dr. Al-Arian's belongings. His clothing, including undergarments, were
taken away, and he was given only a thin hospital gown to wear in the
cold prison. Although Dr. Al-Arian suffers from weak eyesight, his
eyeglasses were also taken away. His cell contains no bed sheets,
blankets or pillows, only a hard metal bed frame beneath a one-inch
mattress. Furthermore, guards took his drinking cup needed to drink
water, which is critical during his hunger strike. Further, Dr.
Al-Arian was also told that he would only be given one telephone call
every 15 days, and that he would not be allowed any attorney calls.
Even if he were to be given regular calls, a single call from Hampton
Roads Regional Jail costs $25.<br>
<br>
When Dr. Al-Arian was removed from his cell, he was handcuffed behind
his back and held by two guards en route to the medical examination.
There, he was examined briefly, not by a doctor, but by a first-year
medical student. <br>
<br>
Prior to his transfer, Dr. Al-Arian was promised by immigration
officials that he would not be subjected to more humiliating and
abusive treatment at the new facility. These horrendous conditions
reflect a gross negligence on the part of the authorities at the
Hampton Roads Regional Jail and a deliberate attempt to break Dr.
Al-Arian's will through this cruel and punitive treatment. By
subjecting him to these continuous abuses, they have attacked his basic
dignity and jeopardized his health to an alarming degree. <br>
<b><br>
TAKE ACTION:</b><br>
<br>
All concerned citizens are requested to contact Hampton Roads Regional
Jail and call for Dr. Al-Arian to be treated humanely, and given
adequate medical attention. The authorities should be requested to
uphold their basic protocol regarding detainees, and not subject Dr.
Al-Arian to any punitive treatment. We know that they take these
telephone calls very seriously, though they may appear dismissive and
at times hostile. The number is: <b>757-488-7500</b>.<br>
<br>
<br>
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<div class="moz-signature"><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">--
<br>
pf soto<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://rule19.org">rule19.org</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://upandout.org">UPandOUT.org</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://azapoi.org">AZAPOI.org</a></font>
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