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News :: Miscellaneous |
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UIUC Student Detained By INS |
Current rating: 0 |
by Zach
Email: zach (nospam) ucimc.org (unverified!) |
30 May 2002
Modified: 31 May 2002 |
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This report comes by way of the AWARE peace list. First report from Matthew Quest by way of Simona Sawhney. An international UIUC student from the UAE who is active in the Israel Divestment campaign has been detained by the FBI today. There is an emergency meeting tonight at 8pm in the Courtyard Cafe at the Illini Union. |
Matthew Quest writes:
Dear Friends:
I greet you with an emergency request for help for a comrade.
Some of you may know Ahmed Bensouda. He is of medium height with dreadlocks and has a slight British accent.
Ahmed Bensouda, who just graduated this month from the UIUC polisci program with his BA, an international student from Dubai, U.A.E., a crucial member of The Israel Divestment Campaign, the Democratic Solidarity Committee, and Urbana-Champaign Unity & Struggle, needs are assistance.
I was informed by a friend that he was picked up and arrested from his apartment in Urbana today by the FBI at 2:30 pm. Recently, the INS came to his home to do what is now the standard interview for young Arab and Muslim visiting student males. Ahmed is a secular anti-authoritarian, and all answers to the questions they asked, despite him being a community activist, were answered honestly and accurately, as he does not fit their Islamicist profile.
He was not "happy" after Sept. 11, he has no military training, no experience with explosives, flying lessons, etc.-you know the drill. We don't know if these agents will return him tonight or sometime soon. We don't know the nature of his being detained. Some of these feds may have their Arab and Muslim student activists mixed up. On the other hand they may be targeting the Palestine solidarity movement which has been among the most strong at the UIUC campus the past two years. Some of us were scheduled to travel shortly to visit the occupied territories.
**IMPORTANT**
1) There will be a meeting tonight at 8pm at UIUC to start a local based solidarity committee, call ahead for the location TBA. For now that contact is Rana, who can be reached at rahmed (at) uiuc.edu and 217-201-1547. I will
coordinate any Chicago based efforts. I can be reached at 773-680-0376 and m-quest (at) northwestern.edu
2) We need help in securing the services of a lawyer
immediately. Preferably a progressive one who is familiar with immigration law. This lawyer will have to confirm Ahmed's whereabouts and why the feds have detained him.
3) With this information we can organize the appropriate type of protest campaign on a local and national level.
Please forward to as many folks who can show their solidarity in any way.
Matthew Quest
M.A. African Studies
UIUC graduate 2001 |
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Meeting attendance great! |
by Peter Miller
peterm (nospam) shout.net (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
30 May 2002
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Members of the newly-formed group, Friends of Ahmed, address a gathering of about 40 people at the University of Illinois Student Union. The groups wants to find out where Ahmed is and if his rights have been violated, and they want to ensure he's safe. |
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waiting for ahmed |
by gabriel
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
30 May 2002
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Three of Ahmed's friends wait in front his home in Urbana. They are worried for his safety and are concerned where he may be. Ahmed was taken away by authorities and none of Ahmed's friends know where he is and why he would be arrested. |
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breaking news page |
by Zach
zach (nospam) ucimc.org (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
31 May 2002
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Check out this page for breaking news:
http://ucimc.org/ahmed |
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Re: UIUC Student Detained By INS |
by Matt Quest
questmt (nospam) alfredstate.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
06 Dec 2004
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Matt quest u have the same name as me.... weird |
