-Caveat Lector- Secret Evidence & Stereotypes Dateline: 12/02/99 The Nasser Ahmed affair, recently resolved, illustrates two horrible aspects of American law: first, the notion that “secret evidence” is permissible in a democratic society; second, that some kinds of discrimination are still allowed in the United States. If you haven’t been following this story, Ahmed is an Arab who had been held until November 30 in solitary confinement by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) pending a judicial order for deportation based on his alleged association with a “known terrorist organization.” Since 1996, he had been held, having never been charged and never permitted to confront the evidence presented against him. Finally, the evidence was presented to a federal immigration judge (although never to Ahmed or his lawyer) who ordered his release. Even after the Board of Immigration Appeals sided again with Ahmed, the INS continued its appeal, asking the Attorney General, Janet Reno, to overrule the two judicial entities. Ultimately and without stated reason, the INS gave up its appeal and allowed Ahmed to go free. This is a major threat to the liberty of all people living in the United States. The idea of the government being able to present “secret evidence” that you cannot review ought to scare you to death. It is also a perversion of the Constitutional protections guaranteed to all who appear in American courts. The Sixth Amendment guarantees that all accused persons in criminal trials shall have the right “to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him.” U.S. Const. amd. VI. It is true that deporting a non-citizen is not a criminal trial, but the proceeding is so similar to a criminal trial (complete with a penalty for those found “guilty”) that it ought to be treated as such constitutionally. As important as the constitutional issues are the societal issues raised by this case. For some reason, discrimination against some groups is acceptable in the United States. Of course it has probably always been that way -- Polish jokes have been circulating for years, for example. But when that discrimination rises to the level of imprisoning members of the group for no cause other than what would be shown by “secret evidence” if only they could show it to you, an unacceptable barrier has been breached. The Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee reports that “almost all” of the individuals facing deportation without charge and on the basis of secret evidence are Arabs. This situation is intolerable. It is a threat to everybody’s liberty that the government is permitted on the basis of secret evidence and racial stereotypes to imprison or deport anybody. Although it is easy to disagree with the American Civil Liberties Union in many cases, they are correct in labeling this case a tragedy. <http://arabculture.about.com/culture/arabculture/library/weekly/aa120299.ht m> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
