Ex-Professor in Palestinian Case Is Freed After 5 Years

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"A former Florida professor once accused of being a leading Palestinian terrorist was released from custody yesterday for the first time in more than five years, hours ahead of a judge's deadline for the government to explain why he was still being held by immigration officials.

Sami al-Arian is awaiting trial on charges of refusing to testify before a grand jury about a cluster of Muslim organizations in Northern Virginia. A federal judge on several occasions has expressed skepticism about the government's contempt charges, and last week she ordered immigration authorities to explain by yesterday afternoon why they were continuing to hold Arian.

Arian will be subject to home detention at his daughter's residence in Northern Virginia and monitored electronically while he awaits trial.

"We are obviously relieved and delighted," said Arian's attorney, Jonathan Turley, who did not make his client available for comment. Turley said the release would allow Arian to see his son off to college and to spend the Muslim holy month of Ramadan with his family.

Federal prosecutors, who strongly opposed Arian's release, declined to comment yesterday."

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[lynnertic]

1. He's gone through hell in the last 5 years - amy goodman follows his story.

I'm glad he's allowed to spend time with his family (ha) but I think he should be cleared and truly freed, not just released to home detention. I think one of the deals he made was that he'd leave the country upon release. Not sure.

[Scurrilous]

2. In Newark, Federal Judge Grants Residency to Imam Facing Deportation

<snip>

"A federal judge ruled on Thursday that a popular imam accused of terrorist connections could stay in the United States indefinitely, ending a months-long deportation trial that drew supporters from around the region.

“I believe in this country, and I believe in the justice system,” the imam, Mohammad Qatanani, said moments after the judge handed down the decision granting him permanent legal residence. Mr. Qatanani, 44, is a spiritual leader at the Islamic Center of Passaic County.

The federal government sought to deport the imam, a Palestinian, on the grounds that when he applied for permanent residency in 1999, he did not disclose a conviction in Israel in 1993 for assisting Hamas. While the prosecution produced witnesses and documents that appeared to show that he had been convicted, the judge did not believe they were credible.

Mr. Qatanani has maintained that he was detained but not arrested in 1993, and that he was unaware of any conviction.

On Thursday, more than a dozen supporters inside the courtroom stood up and cheered the 69-page decision by Immigration Judge Alberto J. Riefkohl. Many hugged and wept. One man wore a T-shirt that read, “Keep the Imam.”

“This is a phenomenal day for the American community,” said David Senter, a rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom in Pompton Lakes, N.J., who came to court to support Mr. Qatanani."

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[Scurrilous]

4. US appeals NJ Muslim cleric immigration case

<snip>

"In a case that could erode hard-won trust between Muslims and law enforcement, the government is appealing the case of a Muslim leader who won his fight to remain in the United States.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement wants the Board of Immigration Appeals to review the decision to stop the deportation of Mohammad Qatanani (KAH'-tah-NAH'-nee), a leader accused by some federal officials of having terrorist ties but praised by others as being an important ally.

Qatanani, 44, won his fight to gain permanent U.S. residency in September, when a federal immigration judge determined the government's case against the Palestinian was too weak to prove he had any ties to extremist groups.

The ruling would allow Qatanani and his family to remain in the country and eventually be eligible to apply for citizenship.

Immigration authorities had sought to deport Qatanani on grounds that he failed to disclose on his green card application an alleged prior arrest and conviction in Israel for being a member of Hamas — a group classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.

Qatanani has denied being a Hamas member and said he was detained, not arrested, by the Israelis while traveling to his native West Bank in 1993.

Immigration Judge Alberto J. Riefkohl questioned the reliability of the records submitted by the Department of Homeland Security purporting to show Qatanani's arrest and conviction in Israel.

The judge called the U.S. government's case against Qatanani "patently incomplete" and found its two key witnesses — both federal agents — to not be credible."

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[azurnoir]

3. This is good news

I would love to hear the circumstances of his "plea bargain", having read about other such bargains