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A federal judge has ordered Arian freed on bail into the custody of his daughter's residence in Virginia. (Google) |
CAIRO — Dr. Sami Al-Arian, an Arab-American professor acquitted in one of America's highest-profile terror cases, has been released from jail for the first time in five years, to the relief of his family and the country's key Muslim groups.
"We are very grateful and happy to spend time with my father and to finally be reunited," his daughter Laila told The New York Sun on Wednesday, September 3.
A federal judge has ordered Arian freed on bail into the custody of his daughter's residence in Virginia.
Arian, a former computer science professor at the University of South Florida, has been in jail since February 2003 on charges of funding the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad.
In 2005, a Florida jury rejected federal charges that Arian operated an Islamic Jihad cell in the US.
Arian later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was scheduled for release and deportation in April.
But he was kept behind bars after prosecutors charged him with criminal contempt for refusing to testify in another case, in what Arian and his lawyers said was a violation of the plea bargain.
Last week, a federal judge ordered immigration authorities to explain by Tuesday, September 2, why they were continuing to hold Arian.
Professor Arian was released hours before the judge's deadline.
Freedom
Laila insisted her father's release proves he has not been "a flight risk, nor a threat."
"[It shows] that he's a respectable member of society who deserved to be released. We hope that the next step will be his permanent freedom."
Arian's lawyer Jonathan Turley stressed the same message.
"We are delighted and relieved that Dr. Al-Arian is reunited with his family," said Jonathan Turley.
"He looks forward to addressing the remaining charges in court and securing his permanent release."
The release was welcomed by American Muslim groups.
"After so many years of anguish, the Al-Arian children will finally be able to spend Ramadan with their father," said Nihad Awad, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
"We welcome Dr. Al-Arian's release and hope that it is an indication that justice may ultimately be served in this disturbing case."
The Muslim American Society also rejoiced the release.
"MAS Freedom (MASF), and many other organizations and individuals, have been working a long time for this day," said MASF executive director Mahdi Bray.
"We are truly grateful to Allah that Dr. Al-Arian and his family will be reunited in this blessed month of Ramadan," he added.
"We hope that Dr. Al-Arian's release initiates the vindication process in the tragic miscarriage of justice that has been inflicted on Dr. Al-Arian and his family."
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