Global Voice for Justice

The following has been brought to our attention by the Muslim Justice Initiative:

Fahad Hashmi has pleaded guilty today to one count of material support. There will be no trial, instead a sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 7th.

Source: http://www.muslimsforjustice.org/2010/04/trial-for-fahad-hashmi/

Imagine; You haven’t seen the sun for 3 dark years.  You’re in a small cell under 24 hour video and audio surveillance. Forced to use the bathroom and shower in full view of the video cameras spying on you. Taking your meals alone in a cell. You cannot see any other detainees. You cannot write letters to friends and cannot make calls to anyone but a lawyer chosen for you. You’re prohibited from participating in group prayer. One hour a day you’re allowed to leave your prison cell, where you’re also kept in total isolation.

You’re locked up in solitary confinement – total isolation – for 3 years, waiting for a trial.

This is the situation of your brother Fahad Hashmi.

What’s his crime?

He is accused of helping al Qaeda by allowing rain gear (raincoats, ponchos and socks) that were going to Afghanistan to be stored in his Queens apartment, he supposedly allowed his cell phone to be used to contact “al Qaeda supporters” and he made post-arrest “threatening” statements.

Keep in mind that all these are accusations, and everything that is being mentioned is heavily subjective and can easily be manipulated (since the “quoted terms” can easily be twisted to suit the agenda of the prosecution.)

The Crimes Perpetrated* against Fahad in Prison:

- He has been punished in Inhumane Solitary Confinement Conditions.

- He is denied the lawyer of his choice.

- He is not allowed to send or receive letters to friends or the outside world.

- He is not allowed to contact the media at all (to make his situation known to the public.)

- He can only get a visit from one member of his family through a heavy screen for one hour every other week, unless the government takes away those visits to further punish him. The government took away his family visits for 90 days when he was observed shadow boxing in his cell and talked back to the guard who asked what he was doing.

- All this without even being proven guilty, without having the right to fair trial for 3 years.

*See Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

It’s less than a week left till his final trial (the 28th of April 2010.) This trial will effect whether he is freed, or whether he stays in these conditions even longer.

What can you do?

Fahad is unaware of the world around him, he does not know that he has supporters. He might have few supporters, or many – if people like you can show that you will join him in court. This will mean so much to him; he will realise that he has a huge amount of supporters since his isolation, he will feel joyous that he is being remembered by everyone and that he is not forgotten.

This one-time opportunity will affect his future well being, and you can make that difference for the better.

“500 @ 500″ is an effort to gather 500 people at the SDNY Court for Fahad Hashmi’s Trial;

When: Begins – April 28th, 2010 [ Trial lasts appx 2-3 weeks]

Where- SDNY Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, Manhattan NY [In front of Judge Preska]

TRAINS to the SDNY Courthouse: J, M or Z to Chambers St. (north exit to Foley Sq.); #4, 5, 6 to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall (north exit); A, C to Chambers; R, W to City Hall; 1, 2, 3 to Chambers; E or PATH to WTC; B, D to Grand.

http://freefahad.com/images/trial28th.jpg

If you cannot visit him in court, then atleast pray for him. It may be that Allah answers your plea and eases the life of our brother.

Visit http://freefahad.com/ for further information.

- GVJ team

Court hearing scheduled for the 31st of March, insha’Allaah. Please make du’aa for the freedom of these brothers.

Trial date of 1/6/10 adjourned. Status conference set for 1/28/10 insha’Allaah.

as-Salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh

As some of you may know, our respected brother Fahad’s trial is set to begin on the 6th of January 2009 and this trial is scheduled to last for two-three weeks, inshaa’Allaah.

So, why does Fahad need YOU?

- Fahad and his family have been waiting 3.5 years for this day to begin and how many of us have been aware of our brother’s situation or even bothered to help him or his family and make du’aa for him all those 3.5 years?

- Did you know that Fahad is on a 23-hour solitary-confinement lockdown and 24-hour surveillance including when he showers and goes to the bathroom. He has not been allowed family visits for months. Now, he can see one person for an hour and a half, every other week.

- Did you know that Fahad is permitted to write one letter a week to a single member of his family, but he cannot use more than three pieces of paper per letter. Within his own cell, he is restricted in his movements and he is not allowed to try to talk guards or other inmates?

- Our brother who hasn’t even been trialed yet is forbidden any contact – directly or through his attorneys – with the news media. He can read newspapers, but only those portions approved by his jailers – and not until 30 days after publication. He is forbidden to listen to news radio stations or to watch television news channels.

- Imagine being under a 24-hour electronic monitoring inside and outside of a cell. Fahad is only allowed ONE hour of recreation every day – which is periodically denied – and not given fresh air but must exercise alone inside a cage.

My brothers and sisters, the justice system that will be deciding whether our brother is guilty or innocent is the same justice system that has given lfe sentences to individuals like Sh. Ali at-tamimi and Ahmad Abu ‘Ali, who until today many know of their innocence and stand for their defence.

Please help your brother in need by showing up to the trials if you’re in the area. If not, then please do pray for him and his family and do your best to spread his case and the injustice done to him, so we may further try to end the oppression our brother continues to face for more than 3 years.

Location: Osgoode Hall (130 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON)
Time & Date: 10:00-10:20AM Monday December 7

‘Abdullaah Khadr said that Pakistani and U.S. interrogators had threatened violence against him and his family. “If someone tells you, if you don’t tell us you are selling missiles to al-Qaida, we are going to rape your sister, what would you say?” Khadr asked during his cross-examination by federal government lawyer Howard Piafsky. When Khadr briefly lost his composure, he was asked by Piafsky if he “needed a moment” before the cross-examination resumed. “I need a life. I don’t need a moment,” responded Khadr, at which point his mother left the courtroom in tears, with his sister following behind..”

If anyone from Sydney is attending, please let us know by contacting: globalvoice.forjustice@gmail.com or post as a comment – we’re working on having as much people there to support our brothers. They’ve already been found guilty and this will be their sentencing hearing. We ask Allaah (‘azza wa jall) that they receive light sentences. The time is TBA.