IAP also regrets the arrest of hundreds of Iranians and other Muslim men by the INS authorities in California. It is travesty of justice to arrest those who only sought to obey the law by registering with INS as requested by the authorties.


IAP Press Release: American Muslims Feel a Loss of Justice

For Immediate Release

Contact: Rafeeq Jaber, President (708) 974-3380 Office
(708) 307-2937 Cell

American Muslims Feel a Loss of Justice

CHICAGO, IL- December 19, 2002. The Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP) views with great concern the actions of federal authorities in their well staged announcement of indictments against Infocom Corporation of Texas and its key officers.

"Fighting terrorism in all of its forms is a paramount objective but not at the expense of safeguarding constitutional principles such as the assumption of innocence until and unless proven guilty," said Rafiq Jaber, the President of IAP.

"We call upon the media and people of conscience to vigilantly monitor the developments of the upcoming trials to ensure that fairness and due process are meted out to these defendants just like any other Americans," added Mr. Jaber.

It is indeed unfortunate that the international issue of Palestinian rights to oppose occupation and to strive for self-determination is being used as a pawn to serve partisan and foreign interests. Muslim and Palestinian institutions that have committed no wrong but have associated with any Palestinian group's legitimate and lawful activities should not be made as scapegoats in the Bush administration's war mongering.

In the light of the deteriorating situation of Muslim civil rights in the United States and ongoing persecution of the Palestinian people by Israel we consider these hyped-up arrests as a link in the chain of the war against the Muslim presence here in America disguised as a war against terrorism. On the contrary, the Bush administration should avoid the perception of targeting and singling out Muslims at a time when the Muslim World is observing the actions of our nation very closely.

IAP also regrets the arrest of hundreds of Iranians and other Muslim men by the INS authorities in California. It is travesty of justice to arrest those who only sought to obey the law by registering with INS as requested by the authorties.

_______________________________________
Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP)
10661 South Roberts Rd, Suite 202 Palos Hills, IL 60465
Tel: 708 974 3380 / Fax: 708 974 3389 /Pager: 1 800 481 4306
www.iap.org E-mails: iapinfo (at) iap.org

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