Palestinian political prisoner now charged with criminal contempt

Al-Arian is a well-known Palestinian political activist whose persecution is part of a government witch-hunt conducted in the name of the war on terror. Al-Arian, who is 50 years old, was fairly prominent in the 1990s and met both Presidents Clinton and Bush. He has become a casualty of the governments anti-Muslim campaign in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks.

In the latest development, the authorities indicted Al-Arian on June 26, charging him with two counts of criminal contempt for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury investigating the activities of Islamic charities in northern Virginia. Al-Arian was arraigned in Federal District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, on June 30. A trial date was set for August 13.

In a significant setback for the government, District Judge Leonie Brinkema granted bail to Al-Arian on July 10. The judge agreed with defense attorney Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, that the defendant was no flight risk and no danger to the community. Turley had written earlier on his blog, Dr. Al-Arian (1) has lived in this country for over 30 years; (2) had lawful alien status; (3) has family with deep ties in the country; (4) has citizens willing to serve in a custodial status; (5) has no passport; and (6) is willing to be continually monitored under home confinement. The opposition of the government is purely gratuitous and retaliatory under such conditions.

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