U.S. Made "Inappropriate" Allegations of Terrorism Before Sentencing Iraqi-American Doctor

While the UN report on the oil-for-food program has been making headlines, there is another story in the news this week involving the Iraqi sanctions that has received little national attention. In Syracuse New York, a prominent Iraqi-American doctor was sentenced to 22 years in prison Thursday for violating the Iraqi sanctions through his charity Help the Needy. Oncologist Rafil Dhafir was arrested 19 months ago in dramatic fashion: more than 85 federal agents descended on his home. He was handcuffed in his driveway and agents hauled out dozens of books and records.

In August 2004, New York Governor George Pataki claimed Dhafir was connected to "money-laundering efforts to help terrorist organizations." But terrorism charges against the doctor never materialized. Instead, supporters of the doctor claim the Justice Department went hunting for possible charges against Doctor Dhafir. Eventually they filed 60 charges against him involving breaking the sanctions, tax evasion and Medicare fraud. Earlier this year a jury convicted him on 59 of the 60 charges.

* Barrie Gewanter, executive director of the Central New York Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union. She has closely monitored the case and has publicly questioned whether Dr. Dhafir received a fair trial.

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