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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Ahmed's Sister: Lay off |
Current rating: 0 |
by Zach
Email: zach (nospam) ucimc.org (unverified!) |
31 May 2002
Modified: 01 Jun 2002 |
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This message was posted to the Friends of Ahmed email list recently by Ehssan Vandaei <evandaei (at) yahoo.com>. |
This is Lamia Bensouda, Ahmed's sister, and I am just
writing to tell everyone in Berkeley, Champaign and
wherever else to please stop publicizing and
organizing further meetings or demonstrations in
solidarity with Ahmed. I sent an email to sjpfolks to
stop emailing the list, and my family, Ahmed and
myself would like people to lay off and let us sort
out whatever needs to be sorted with his legal defense
team. Once again, we appreciate the support, but at
this point, when information is scarse we decided it
is in the best interest of Ahmed and his family
members if this propaganda stops.
Thanks,
Lamia |
See also:
http://lists.cu.groogroo.com/mailman/archive/foa/2002-May/000021.html
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i'd like to know more... |
by sascha
sascha (nospam) ucimc.org (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
31 May 2002
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i must admit, i'm a bit concerned about a blanket call for self-censorship. i am deeply concerned about the actions of my government and see ahmed's case as a local example of what is wrong with our current policies towards foreign visitors and the extremes that federal authorities are going to during the current "war" on terrorism.
that ahmed went to the Israeli embassy only days before to get a visa and now is under arrest is cause for deep concern. the fact that he has been an active organizer within the palestinian community also raises questions about why he has been arrested.
that law-abiding residents are being targeted by federal authorities is also bizarre. the fact is, IMC journalists have asked repeatedly for information from federal authorities and law officers -- that they have refused to answer questions (you can hear them refuse to answer questions on tape a few articles earlier) and created the current situation of scarse information is a call for further investigation and more transparency.
situations like this radiate a chilling effect throughout the community, detrimentally affecting all of us who believe in fundamental civil (and human) rights. to ask people not to show their solidarity for those oppressed by current policies and law enforcement practices seems to me exactly the wrong way to go.
either way, i would very much like to learn more about why this call is being made.
--sascha |
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What's up? |
by DR
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
31 May 2002
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It's fairly routine for immigration lawyers to ask that their clients, and families not speak to the press before
a legal defense strategy has been developed.
But it's also important to remember that we're dealing here with the INS, where the foreign born are routinely detained without charge, and summarily deported - particularly after the wave of repressive legislation and the changes in INS policy since 9-11.
Immigration lawyers across the country are discovering that purely 'legal' defense strategies for those targeted by INS for deportation because of their political views,(often through the pretext of minor visa violations)have proven utterly inadequate, and are unable to break through the veil of secrecy that INS and immigration judges routinely cast over the process. And this often results in the defendent being coerced by the government into agreeing to 'voluntary' departure..rather than face the prospect of having to sit indefinately in jail.
So it's rather unusual to ask for a 'voluntary' blackout of all media coverage, based on other news sources. What gives? |
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Too bad |
by Mazin
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
01 Jun 2002
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Too bad IMC decided to kill coverage of this story. Looks like "Larry" and his family - or his lawyer- haven't been paying much attention to the literally hundreds of deportation cases around the country in the wake of 9-11. The INS does not 'negotiate" anything but snitch visas and voluntary departures these days. By the time the mentioned 10 day 'cooling off' period is over, 'Larry' will be sitting in Morocco. |
