• Listen to this segment

GUEST: Laila Al Arian, Sami Al Arian’s daughter

A former Computer Science professor at the University of South Florida been imprisoned since February 2003 on charges of providing material support to a group called Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Dr. Sami Al Arian was originally scheduled to be released and deported this month. But a judge ruled to extend al-Arian’s term for an additional eighteen months following his refusal to testify before a grand jury in Virginia investigating Palestinian charities. The contempt ruling was recently upheld by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court which rejected al-Arian’s argument that his refusal was within the terms of his 2003 plea bargain. Dr. Al Arian had been on a 2 month hunger strike to protest the extension of his prison term during which he lost over 50 pounds and was in dangerous health. He decided to end his hunger strike last week at the urging of his family. Dr. al-Arian had been under government surveillance for years. After his 2003 arrest, a 2005 trial failed to convict him on any counts. The government was determined to re-prosecute him and Dr. Al-Arian decided to enter a plea bargain.

For more information, visit www.freesamialarian.com