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Saturday, May 14 12pm- 5pm Auburn Avenue Research Library 101 Auburn Avenue Northeast Atlanta, GA To RSVP and Co-sponsor email
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Join organizers, legal advocates, families, academics, and human rights activists to build alliances between communities affected by preemptive prosecution, racial profiling, and criminalization.
GOALS:
- To build a common understanding of the post-9/11 political climate & context regarding preemptive prosecution and racial profiling
- To connect the tactics & strategies of the War on Terror, the War on Drugs, and anti- immigrant legislation
- To connect the Southern historical and racial context to these strategies
- To build alliances across communities targeted by law enforcement agencies, including but limited to immigrant communities, Muslim communities, and Black communities
- To lay the foundation for a legal advocacy infrastructure connected to social movements
Invited organizations:
Atlanta & Southeast-based:
Southern Center for Human Rights (GA)
Movement to End Israeli Apartheid (MEIA-GA)
Georgia Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition
Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights
Equal Justice Initiative (AL)
The Ordinary Peoples Society (AL)
ACLU – GA
US Human Rights Network (GA)
SONG - Southerners on New Ground (GA & NC)
Project South (Regional)
Amnesty International (Southern Region)
Friends of Human Rights, Tampa, FL
Muslim Student Associations at GSU, GA Tech, & Clark
Masjid Al Farooq
Islamic Center of Marietta, GA
Islamic Center of North Fulton, GA
CAIR – Atlanta
WAND – Atlanta
The People’s Agenda
Committee to Stop FBI Repression, NC
Justice For Shifa and Haris Supporting Committee
Raleigh 7 Supporting Committee
Atlanta International Action Center
National:
The Peace Thru Justice Foundation
Families United For Justice In America
Center For Constitutional Rights
Project SALAM
National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network
National Lawyers Guild
American Islamic Fellowship
Rights Working Group
Participants Include: National Coalition To Protect Civil Freedoms (NCPCF); Center For Constitutional Rights (CCR); Project South; Families United For Justice In America (FUJA); The Peace Thru Justice Foundation; Project SALAM; Atlanta International Action Center; National Committee to Stop FBI Repression; Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought (ICIT); National Jericho Movement; American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)-GA; Amnesty International-GA; Georgia Immigrants and Refugee Rights Coalition; Movement to End Israeli Apartheid (MEIA-GA); Friends of Human Rights-Tampa, FL; Rights Working Group-Washington, DC; ***** Refreshment will be served*****
To RSVP and co-sponsor the event and to learn more Information
Contact:
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Find this event on facebook: Law as a Weapon of War
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FROM THE SENTENCE HEARING
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Hand-written statement Shifa prepared for his sentence hearing, but the Judge obstructed him from completing his last statement. He was going to connect the statement to his case and sentencing but was not permitted. See for yourself in the transcript and read his hand written statement on Praising God, which the Judge and the media misinterpreted and twisted.
The sentencing of Shifa and Haris was on December 14, 2009. Shifa's sentencing was first at 10am and Haris' began at 2:30pm. The State proposed 20 years for Shifa and 15 years for Haris, who both represented themselves. "I have not and I will not request any sentence. It does not matter to me. I submit to no one's authority but to the authority of God," said Shifa. Both Shifa and Haris courageously addressed the global impact of US colonization through the judicial system utilizing prayer, scripture, translation and comparison of the Quran and the Bible. Between the two sentencing hearings, our team broke for lunch and helped to prep family and community members to speak with the press for the afternoon's press conference, which was held in front of the federal building. In the evening, family and a few community members gathered for food and support.
Below, please find the sentences for both men, highlights from the press conference and a statement from the families.
In solidarity,
The Free Shifa Campaign
Shifa Sadequee sentenced to:
- 17 years prison (including 3 years and 8 months of time already served before trial).
- Plus 30 years probation which means being monitored by the US Government and subject to the requests of a probation officer which included: one mandatory drug test upon probation and two additional drug tests at the probation officers discretion, a mandatory dna test for collection of dna material, subject to audits at the request of probation officer, no credit card applications without permission from the probation officer, and subject to search of person or property at the request of the probation officer, AND specifically no internet access (which includes computer, phone, etc.).
Haris Ahmed sentenced to:- 13 years (including 3 years and 9 months of time already served before trial)
- Plus 30 years probation which means being monitored by the US Government and subject to the requests of a probation officer which included: one mandatory drug test upon probation and two additional drug tests at the probation officers discretion, a mandatory dna test for collection of dna material, subject to audits at the request of probation officer, no credit card applications without permission from the probation officer, and subject to search of person or property at the request of the probation officer, AND specifically no internet access (which includes computer, phone, etc.).
Highlights from the Press Conference: - "You know it's bad when a 17 and 13 year sentence for two men who didn't commit a crime is considered a good thing." --Mauri Saalakhan
- "This is unjust, extreme, and excessive." -- Sonali Sadequee
- "They were never a threat, in fact both have been a source of inspiration to the families and teaching us our history." --Sonali Sadequee
- "The 30 year probationary period continues to chain our brothers to a judicial system that continues to persecute our families and communities. It's not just Shifa and Haris who will be under surveillance, but our families will continue to be under surveillance as well." --Samia Ahmed (Sister of Haris)
Statement from the Families: In defending themselves, our brothers/sons have tried to express to the court and share with the world, what young Muslim Americans are going through living and growing up in the heart of the Empire (US). It is unfortunate our government and the judicial system could not hear them and misunderstood them. Our journey to liberate our brothers/sons will continue and we stand in solidarity and support our brothers/sons who inspire us everyday to become better human beings by living a just and pious life.
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How Much Time Should a Wannabe Terrorist Spend in Jail by David Weingarten
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The Day of Decision for Two Young Muslim Men by Mauri Saalakhan
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An Open Letter From Haris Ahmed
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