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November 28, 2003

Palestinian Activist Placed in Solitary Following Assault by Corrections Officers

Officials in the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack, NJ, are now holding New York-area Palestinian activist Farouk Abdel-Muhti in isolation. They reportedly moved him into solitary on Nov. 25; he told a supporter that day that he thought he was to be kept "in the hole" for five days--coinciding with celebrations on Thanksgiving Day and at the end of Ramadan.

The new move against Abdel-Muhti is apparently a disciplinary proceeding connected to an incident on the evening of Nov. 19 when two corrections officers pushed, kicked and punched Abdel-Muhti after finding leftist publications in his cell. Prison officials claim they are punishing Abdel-Muhti because the guards discovered that he had "stockpiled" newspapers and medicine in his cell. Prision officials also withheld all medication from Abdel-Muhti between Nov. 19 and Nov. 25; Abdel-Muhti, who is 56, needs medication for hypertension, arthritis and a thyroid condition.

Abdel-Muhti's supporters say they are consulting with his legal team about an appropriate response to the assault, which they contend follows a pattern of harassment of Abdel-Muhti for his political activities. Abdel-Muhti has been detained for more than a year and a half by US immigration authorities, who claim they need to hold him while they attempt to carry out a 1995 deportation order. His attorneys argue that the government must release the activist since he is stateless and no country has accepted him.

Dozens of human rights activists and other concerned people contacted immigration officials in Washington, DC, earlier this week to protest Abdel-Muhti's treatment and his prolonged detention.

Local activists are planning a march on the federal building in downtown Newark on Saturday, Nov. 29, to demand Abdel-Muhti's release. The march will start shortly after 1 pm from outside Newark's Penn station, proceeding along Market Street to Broad Street and then to a brief rally at the Peter W. Rodino Jr. Federal Building at Broad Street and Court Street.

Read Farouk's 11/28 Statement

11/28/03: Farouk Abdel-Muhti has now been held for 581 days

Committee for the Release of Farouk Abdel-Muhti
PO Box 20587, Tompkins Square Station
New York, NY 10009
212-674-9499