Minneapolis, MN – On April 15, Noor Elashi, daughter of wrongfully imprisoned Holy Land 5 defendant Ghassan Elashi, spoke to a packed room of over 50 people, mostly students from the University of Minnesota, about her father’s case. John Cline, Ghassan Elashi’s lawyer, also spoke of the injustice brought upon the five men who founded and built the largest Muslim charity in the U.S. George W. Bush shut down The Holy Land Foundation, falsely claiming its charity work for Palestine had ties to terrorism.

Elashi spoke passionately about the enduring spirit of her father despite being sentenced to 65 years. He is now in a Communications Management Unit prison in southern Illinois. “He’s told me that when he’s exonerated he will carry a sign saying ‘Free Palestine’ as he leaves prison,” Elashi said.

John Cline talked about the legal aspects of the case. Despite the government presenting many pieces of ‘evidence’ meant to scare the jury, the first trial of the Holy Land 5 resulted in a hung jury. All (but one) of the jurors thought the government had a faulty case. But the government’s Barry Jonas, and the other prosecutors, decided to try the men again. At the second trial, they used additional ‘evidence’ to guarantee a guilty verdict, including unverifiable evidence put forward by a witness testifying under anonymity and wild claims by so-called experts threatening a second 9-11-style attack.

A Federal Appeals court later found that it was a mistake to admit the new evidence but allowed the verdicts to stand.

Mick Kelly, of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, ended the program by connecting the injustice brought against the Holy Land defendants to the attacks on those who speak out for justice, like himself and the other 22 anti-war and international solidarity activists who were subpoenaed and raided two and half years ago.

At this point, the legal remedies for the Holy Land 5 have been exhausted. But Elashi, Cline and Kelly made it clear that we should continue to speak out against the injustice of the Holy Land 5 case and speak against government repression like the ongoing case of the Anti-war 23.

This event was part of several events in Minneapolis, including one the previous night with local peace and justice activists. The event on April 15 was sponsored by Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Minnesota, Students for Justice in Palestine, and the Women's Student Activist Collective.

#MinneapolisMN #Palestine #PoliticalPrisoners #NoorElashi #IsraeliOccupation #AntiWar23 #GhassanElashi #HolyLandFive #FBIRepression #HolyLand5

The event was organized by the newly-formed Tallahassee chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Cecelia O'Brien, one of the founders of the chapter, introduced the speakers and contextualized this new wave of government repression for students. “Student groups in Florida recently faced repression from their university administration, which is part of a larger attack on the rights of activists,” said O'Brien. She continued, “The way we fight back against this repression is by supporting each other and sharing our stories at events like this one.”

Noor Elashi spoke as the daughter of Ghassan Elashi, a founder of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development who was raided by the FBI in 2001 and imprisoned by the U.S. government in 2008. As the largest Muslim charity in the U.S., the Holy Land Foundation provided housing and scholarships for poor students in Palestine and around the world. The Bush administration shut down the Foundation in 2001 and later indicted its founders on bogus charges of material support for terrorist groups. Ghassan Elashi remains imprisoned, along with four other Foundation members, for providing charity to the Palestinian people.

After reading an excerpt from her upcoming book about her father's experience with repression and how it affected her family, Elashi spoke about the awful conditions her father experienced in federal prison. The U.S. government currently incarcerates Ghassan Elashi in the so-called “Communications Management Unit” in a Marion, Illinois prison.

John Cline, who was Ghassan's attorney, spoke about the outrageous case that the U.S. government brought against the Holy Land Foundation. He talked about the government's use of anonymous witnesses. He also talked about the specious evidence brought against Ghassan and the four other founders that lower courts determined was inadmissible and flawed. Students were visibly outraged at this injustice and spoke about it during the question and comment section at the end.

Finally, Mick Kelly spoke about his experience with government repression when he was raided by the FBI on Sept. 24, 2010. Kelly talked about receiving a call from his spouse while at work, who told him ominously, “They're here.” After returning home, he found his home had been raided by a machine gun-wielding FBI SWAT Team, who had used a battering ram to break down the door to his apartment. The agents carrying out the raid came heavily armed with two extra clips, as if expecting a confrontation. Kelly reiterated that he was raided because of his anti-war and solidarity work, particularly with regards to Colombia and Palestine.

After a 30-minute question and answer session, students stuck around afterwards to talk with the three speakers about the Holy Land 5 case and ways of fighting repression.

Tallahassee SDS will continue organizing against government repression and looks forward to building on this successful event, according to organizers.

#TallahasseeFL #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #PalestineSolidarity #PoliticalPrisoners #HolyLandFive #GhassanElashi #FBIRepression

Tampa, FL—Students, anti-war activists and community organizers gathered at the First United Church of Tampa on Sunday, March 24 to demand an end to U.S. government political repression. 35 people discussed ways to oppose political repression and gain freedom for the Holy Land Five.

Noor Elashi spoke about her father Ghassan Elashi, one of the Holy Land Five. Mr. Elashi co-founded The Holy Land Foundation and is currently serving a 65-year sentence in a Communications Management Unit (CMU) prison.

The Holy Land Foundation was a charity organization that provided food and supplies like clothing and books to children both in the U.S. and in Palestine. The Red Cross and other NGOs do very similar charity work. At the time, The Holy Land Foundation became the largest Muslim charity organization in the U.S. Shortly after 9/11 however, then-President Bush launched an FBI investigation and raided the homes of the charity leaders. They were investigated, tried twice and sentenced to long prison terms, becoming known as the Holy Land Five.

“Everyone who hears the facts of my father's case says he is an innocent man,” said Noor Elashi. She described visiting her father and taking photos outside the prison. The guards harassed her and confiscated her film, delaying and threatening to prevent the family’s visit with Ghassan Elashi. The guards forced Noor to delete all of her photographs; not even a photograph of her father was allowed to stay on her camera.

Noor describes how Ghassan Elashi was thrown in solitary confinement, “for hugging my little brother, who has Down syndrome, or for writing his name on a yoga mat.” Solitary confinement is a torturous way to punish those who are already serving time in special prisons for Muslims. Ghassan Elashi is now held at the CMU prison in Marion, Illinois. CMU prisons violate the human rights of prisoners and are much more restrictive than regular prisons.

John Cline, attorney for Ghassan Elashi, talked about the legal restrictions and outrageous rulings in the Holy Land Five case. The crowd learned the case is based on hearsay evidence – statements alleging the Holy Land Foundation was part of Hamas. In addition there was “shock video” unrelated to the case of Palestinians burning flags.

Finally Cline spoke of an Israeli military officer, never identified to the defense, who was allowed to testify. This is something new to U.S. trials and law. This is the first time the U.S. government structured a case in this manner. “I almost quit my practice after learning this detail,” said Cline. “It was hard for me to believe the justice system had failed and that there was no justice here.” Attorney John Cline ended his talk with urging those who were present to share this story with everyone they know. The Holy Land Five marked the beginning of a judicial form of political repression targeting American Muslims, but also anti-war and international solidarity activists.

The final speaker was Mick Kelly from the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, who described the FBI raid of his home, “I was at work at 7:30 in the morning when I got a call from my wife telling me the FBI was in my house,” said Kelly. He left work and came home to a crowd of FBI agents taking pictures, throwing newspapers and other items into dozens of boxes. “Over 70 agents all across the country did the very same thing to 22 other anti-war activists,” said Kelly.

The raids were a direct attack on anti-war activists. Mick Kelly and the other 22 antiwar activists are living day to day without knowing when or where they may be raided or indicted. Under U.S. Attorney Barry Jonas' watch, law enforcement agent Karen Sullivan met and tricked her way into anti-war activists' lives; all while monitoring and reporting back to the FBI.

“I have spoken out about supporting the people's right to self-determination, to liberation for Palestine and Colombia. No amount of political repression will make me stop saying that,” said Mick Kelly.

Jared Hamil, an organizer of the event, said, “What every person at the talk took home with them was the fact that anti-war sentiment is growing. The Holy Land Five represent everything that is wrong with our current justice system. Charity is not a crime. Feeding children is not a crime. Being anti-war is not a crime. We must unite and fight back against these attacks and demand a stop to government political repression.”

The event was organized by Mel Underbakke of the National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms and Jared Hamil with Committee to Stop FBI Repression-Tampa. Leaders from Students for a Democratic Society, Students for Justice in Palestine, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and the Bradley Manning Support Network were present.

Tampa is one of three Florida cities – also including Tallahassee and Gainesville – where Noor Elashi, John Cline and Mick Kelly are touring. If you are unable to attend the upcoming talks, be sure to sign the Stop FBI Repression Pledge to Resist FBI, Grand Jury Repression here: http://www.stopfbi.net/get-involved/pledge-of-resistance and share their stories with everyone you know.

“I told my father that as long as I am alive, people will hear about my father's case. I will not stop until there is justice,” stated Noor Elashi.

#TampaFL #NoorElashi #AntiWar23 #GhassanElashi #HolyLand5 #PoliticalRepression

The protest is part of an October 25 national day of action called by the Holy Land Five/Freedom to Give group and the Committee to Stop FBI Repression. Their statement explains, “The Holy Land 5 need our urgent solidarity. The U.S. Supreme Court will decide in late October whether their final appeal will even be heard. The Holy Land 5 are five Muslim charity leaders wrongly imprisoned due to U.S. government political repression. They are being punished for publicly sending charity to Palestinians, at a time when U.S. domination is being challenged in the Middle East.”

Noor Elashi, whose father, Ghassan Elashi, is now imprisoned, is speaking out, “I am heartened by the solidarity of those who are standing by my father during this critical time. I hope to see this momentum keep building until the Holy Land 5 are exonerated.”

Tom Burke of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression explains, “The first Holy Land trial ended in a hung jury. The second trial used secret witnesses never identified to the defense, hearsay evidence, and a ‘shock video’ showing protesters in Palestine burning an American flag. This contributed to prejudicing the jurors. It is completely outrageous the five Muslim charity leaders were sentenced to between 15 and 65 years!”

The protests will raise public awareness about this injustice. This case is of critical importance and protesters will stand together with the anti-war movement to say, “Solidarity with Palestine is not a crime.”

For more information go to: stopfbi.net and freedomtogive.com.

#UnitedStates #Palestine #CommitteeToStopFBIRepression #HolyLandFoundation #HolyLandFive #GhassanElashi #PoliticalPrisoners