The court has finalized the plea agreement and the immediate restrictive conditions of confinement are being lifted. Legal counsel is now shifting focus to monitoring his transfer and ensuring full compliance with the terms established today. I am moving to close this petition now that we have secured the necessary …
Syed Fahad Hashmi is a Muslim American citizen being held in a federal jail on two counts of providing material support --and two counts of making a contribution of goods or services -- to Al Qaida. As his case goes to trial, we wish to register our concern about the conditions of his detention, constraints on his right to a fair trial, and the potential threat his case poses to the First Amendment rights of others.
The conditions of Hashmi\'s detention are draconian. He is in solitary confinement and subject to a regime of severe deprivation. Under special administrative measures (SAMs) imposed by the Attorney General, his communication with other prisoners, attorneys, family, the media, and people outside the jail--as well as access to the news and other reading material-- is either prohibited or highly restricted. He is subject to 24-hour electronic monitoring and 23-hour lockdown, has no access to fresh air, and must take his one hour of daily recreation-- when it is given-- inside a cage.
Hashmi\'s right to a fair trial is in jeopardy. The prosecution may present new allegations against him up until the day before his trial begins. It may withhold evidence from him and/or his attorneys yet share that evidence with the judge. He may not communicate with the news media, either directly or through his attorneys. The conditions of his detention may impair his mental state and ability to testify on his own behalf.
The prosecution\'s case against Hashmi, an activist within the Muslim community, threatens the First Amendment rights of others. While Hashmi\'s political and religious beliefs, speech, and associations are constitutionally protected, the government may attempt to use them as evidence of his criminal intent. This could have a chilling effect on the First Amendment rights of others, particularly in activist and Muslim communities.
We call upon the United States government to review and alleviate the conditions of Hashmi\'s detention, particularly his solitary confinement and the SAMs imposed upon him; to remove or revise the constraints on his right to a fair trial; and to guarantee that his actions--rather than his constitutionally protected statements, beliefs, and associations--constitute the basis of the government\'s case against him, in court and in the public arena.
We need to hit the one thousand signature mark before I submit the petition to the Department of Justice. Please send the link to your professional and legal contacts to push us across this threshold.
Reached 100 supporters
May 8, 2008
6 Comments
M
Mike Harvey
18 years ago
Featured
The government is way out of line here. If we let them shred the constitution for one person they will eventually do it to all of us.
S
Sarah Chopra
18 years ago
Featured
This is just wrong. Everyone deserves to be treated like a human being regardless of what they are accused of. Solitary for that long is torture pure and simple.
K
Kevin Newman
18 years ago
Featured
What happened to innocent until proven guilty? This looks like a show trial to me.
R
Rachel Ford
18 years ago
Featured
I dont care what anyone says about the charges nobody should be kept in a cage like an animal for years before a verdict. Stop the SAMs.
F
Fatima Turner
18 years ago
Featured
LEAVE HIM ALONE. The way they are handling this is so suspicious. Justice should be fair for everyone not just who the gov likes.
D
David Alvarez
18 years ago
Featured
How can you have a fair trial when you are locked in a box all day and can't even talk to your own lawyers properly? Total insanity.
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The court has finalized the plea agreement and the immediate restrictive conditions of confinement are being lifted. Legal counsel is now shifting focus to monitoring his transfer and ensuring full compliance with the terms established today. I am moving to close this petition now that we have secured the necessary …
Syed Fahad Hashmi is a Muslim American citizen being held in a federal jail on two counts of providing material support --and two counts of making a contribution of goods or services -- to Al Qaida. As his case goes to trial, we wish to register our concern about the conditions of his detention, constraints on his right to a fair trial, and the potential threat his case poses to the First Amendment rights of others.
The conditions of Hashmi\'s detention are draconian. He is in solitary confinement and subject to a regime of severe deprivation. Under special administrative measures (SAMs) imposed by the Attorney General, his communication with other prisoners, attorneys, family, the media, and people outside the jail--as well as access to the news and other reading material-- is either prohibited or highly restricted. He is subject to 24-hour electronic monitoring and 23-hour lockdown, has no access to fresh air, and must take his one hour of daily recreation-- when it is given-- inside a cage.
Hashmi\'s right to a fair trial is in jeopardy. The prosecution may present new allegations against him up until the day before his trial begins. It may withhold evidence from him and/or his attorneys yet share that evidence with the judge. He may not communicate with the news media, either directly or through his attorneys. The conditions of his detention may impair his mental state and ability to testify on his own behalf.
The prosecution\'s case against Hashmi, an activist within the Muslim community, threatens the First Amendment rights of others. While Hashmi\'s political and religious beliefs, speech, and associations are constitutionally protected, the government may attempt to use them as evidence of his criminal intent. This could have a chilling effect on the First Amendment rights of others, particularly in activist and Muslim communities.
We call upon the United States government to review and alleviate the conditions of Hashmi\'s detention, particularly his solitary confinement and the SAMs imposed upon him; to remove or revise the constraints on his right to a fair trial; and to guarantee that his actions--rather than his constitutionally protected statements, beliefs, and associations--constitute the basis of the government\'s case against him, in court and in the public arena.
We need to hit the one thousand signature mark before I submit the petition to the Department of Justice. Please send the link to your professional and legal contacts to push us across this threshold.
Reached 100 supporters
May 8, 2008
6 Comments
M
Mike Harvey
18 years ago
Featured
The government is way out of line here. If we let them shred the constitution for one person they will eventually do it to all of us.
S
Sarah Chopra
18 years ago
Featured
This is just wrong. Everyone deserves to be treated like a human being regardless of what they are accused of. Solitary for that long is torture pure and simple.
K
Kevin Newman
18 years ago
Featured
What happened to innocent until proven guilty? This looks like a show trial to me.
R
Rachel Ford
18 years ago
Featured
I dont care what anyone says about the charges nobody should be kept in a cage like an animal for years before a verdict. Stop the SAMs.
F
Fatima Turner
18 years ago
Featured
LEAVE HIM ALONE. The way they are handling this is so suspicious. Justice should be fair for everyone not just who the gov likes.
D
David Alvarez
18 years ago
Featured
How can you have a fair trial when you are locked in a box all day and can't even talk to your own lawyers properly? Total insanity.
The government is way out of line here. If we let them shred the constitution for one person they will eventually do it to all of us.