Jamiah Suseno <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Subject: [Sca-civilrights] Calif. Imam to Leave U.S. Voluntarily
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
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American Muslim News Briefs - 12/28/04
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* Calif. Imam to Leave U.S. Voluntarily
* Muslims Meet Congressman to Protest Imam's Detention (LA Times)
* Muslims call on Cox for detention aid (Daily Pilot)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CALIF. IMAM TO LEAVE U.S. VOLUNTARILY
(ANAHEIM, CA - 12/28/04) - Today, the attorney of a local Islamic
religious leader (Imam) announced that her client has agreed to
voluntarily leave the U.S. Imam Wagdy Ghoneim's attorney, Valerie
Curtiss-Diop, reached that agreement with Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) after a bond hearing for Ghoneim's release from
immigration detention. Representatives from the Council on
American-Islamic Relations - Southern California (CAIR-LA), Muslim
Public Affairs Council (MPAC) and the Free Imam Wagdy Committee (FIWC)
attended the hearing to monitor the Imam Wagdy's due process rights.
According to Ghoneim's attorney, Ghoneim and his family decided it was
best for them to resume a normal life in freedom in another country.
Ten days ago, the Imam suffered chest pains and was hospitalized
possibly due to the stress related to his detention. Immigration and
Customs and Enforcement (ICE) officials reportedly turned away family
and friends who sought to check on his condition. Media reports
indicated that, during his medical ordeal, the Imam was handcuffed to
his hospital bed. He was later released back to the detention facility.
In a statement, the Free Imam Wagdy Committee (FIWC) said:
"While we respect Imam Wagdy and his wife's decision to leave, we were
greatly disturbed to see the Department of Homeland Security engage in
guilt by association using "evidence" from known Islamophobes."
Over the last few months, CAIR has received reports about Muslim
religious leaders in California being detained on minor immigration
infractions and denied bail. Dozens of complaints of harassment have
also been filed by American Muslim travelers. The incidents include
being unable to remove their names from the 'No Fly List,' repeated
stops and interrogations at airports, exclusion from entry to the
United States, and revocation of visas for no stated reason. Islamic
leaders and activists prevented from entering this country include
Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens) and Swiss professor Dr.
Tariq Ramadan.
On Monday, December 20, some 500 people attended an emergency town hall
meeting hosted the Southern California Civil Rights Coalition (CRC) to
discuss what they say is the selective application of the laws and
unfair targeting of Muslims by the DHS.
"While we are all in full support of securing our nation and its borders
and abiding with our laws, we believe the selective application of the
law only reinforces the widespread perception that DHS officials are
targeting Islam and Muslims," said Sabiha Khan, communications director
for the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Southern California
(CAIR-LA).
- END -
CONTACT: Sabiha Khan, CAIR-LA communications director, 714-776-1847 or
714-390-0334, E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Valerie Curtiss-Diop, attorney,
213-368-1570
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Muslims Meet Congressman to Protest Imam's Detention (LA Times)
By Kimi Yoshino, The Los Angeles Times, December 28, 2004
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/state/la-me-muslim28dec28,1,1886945.st
ory
Members of the Muslim community, including the family of a jailed
Islamic leader who has been held at a federal detention facility since
Nov. 4, met Monday with Rep. Christopher Cox to protest alleged
violations of due process by immigration officials.
About two dozen community members delivered a petition signed by more
than 1,000 people and asked Cox, a Newport Beach Republican who is
chairman of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, to investigate
the case of Wagdy Mohamed Ghoneim...
...His 17-year-old daughter, Afnan, said the situation had been
stressful. "We cried a lot," she said. "We can visit him, but only with
glass between us. You cannot even hug him and touch him."
Last week, he was taken to a hospital after becoming ill. But family
members were not told which hospital and were not allowed to visit or
speak to him. Later, he told them that he was chained to his hospital
bed at the ankles and wrists.
...During their meeting with Cox, representatives from the Muslim Public
Affairs Council and the Council on American-Islamic Relations
criticized an earlier hearing held for Ghoneim, during which the
government suggested that the imam is a national security risk and
presented information from anti-Islamic websites that mentioned his
name.
"When ICE attempts to submit testimony that is downloaded articles from
anti-Islamic websites, you cannot get a fair trial from biased
articles," said Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Muslim
Public Affairs Council.
"We should be working in partnership with law enforcement and
government. To use Muslims as scapegoats for political agendas, that is
not helping us win the war on terrorism."
Cox told Ghoneim's family that he would investigate the case. "We want
to make sure national security is conducted within the rights of all
Americans," he told them. "... I'm going to use this opportunity to
learn, very thoroughly, how ICE is proceeding in cases like these..."
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Muslims call on Cox for detention aid (Daily Pilot)
Newport's representative says he'll look into case of an imam being held
by U.S. immigration.
By Alicia Robinson, Daily Pilot, December 28, 2004
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/pilot/news/la-dpt-muslim28dec28,1,5561
622.story?coll=la-tcn-pilot-news
NEWPORT BEACH - Local Muslim leaders paid a visit to Rep. Chris Cox's
district office Monday, hoping to enlist his help in ending what they
believe is the unfair detention of one of their own.
Family members and supporters of Wagdy Ghoneim, an imam at the Islamic
Institute of Orange County in Anaheim, brought Cox a petition with
1,000 signatures asking him to look into Ghoneim's case.
Cox is chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.
Many in the Muslim community, and others concerned about potential
government abuse of power, think increased vigilance by immigration
authorities in the name of homeland security is unfairly targeting the
Muslim community...
"The community is very concerned about the imam's case as well as the
detentions in general, where individuals are being held for lengthy
periods of time without knowing the charges against them," said Ra'id
Faraj, public relations director for the Anaheim chapter of the Council
on American-Islamic Relations. "There is a perception in the community
that there is selective targeting and enforcement, and that is a
widespread perception."
Cox met with Ghoneim's family Monday afternoon and vowed to look into
Ghoneim's case to make sure rules are fairly applied...
"If in fact this case or any other is an example of unfair targeting of
Muslims, then it is a violation of the established policy of the
Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice," he
said.
Muslim leaders were pleased with Cox's response to Ghoneim's situation,
said Ahmed Younis, national director of the Muslim Public Affairs
Council.
"We commend Congressman Cox for taking such great leadership," Younis
said. "He really went over and above what they usually do in situations
like this."
--
_________________________________________________________________
COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS (CAIR)
Southern California
2180 W. Crescent Ave., Suite F
Anaheim, CA 92801
Tel: (714) 776-1847
Fax: (714) 776-8340
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
URL: http://www.cair-net.org
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