Post-Sentencing Statement: From the Family of Fahad Hashmi

From the Family of Fahad Hashmi
http://www.muslimsforjustice.org/2010/06/post-sentencing-statement-from-the-family-of-fahad-hashmi/

June 10, 2010

A chapter has closed in our brother Fahad’s ordeal with the United States government. Yesterday’s sentence reflects a harsh imposition of 15 years in prison. The proceedings were a clear indication of the government’s gross exaggeration, distortion of facts, and fear-mongering to serve their purposes. Before he was sentenced, Fahad was allowed to speak, his first public statement since being arrested 4 years ago. In his speech, he expressed his gratitude to all his supporters, Muslim and non-Muslim, for their work on his behalf and commitment to seeking justice, took responsibility for his actions, and questioned the government’s treatment of him and Muslims more broadly.

Fahad’s case reveals the reign of tyranny that the government has imposed on its Muslim population. A vague and fickle material support statute has been used to criminalize Muslims–and particularly the political and religious associations of Muslims. The statute itself is over reaching and compromises the First Amendment freedoms of speech and association. It is the subject of criticism by human and civil rights organization and a recent Supreme Court case.

The severe solitary confinement imposed on Fahad is what many experts have defined as one of the worst forms of torture. Such pre-trial isolation is punitive and used to break the human psyche. The (SAMs) Special Administrative Measures Fahad was put under make torture sound like a harmless bureaucratic act. It is in fact an act of malice manifested. Fahad’s solitary confinement was applied under the presumption of innocence, yet this presumption is often discarded when it comes to Muslim defendants. The Muslim population is the victim of due process violations that lead them to the conclusion that there is an apparent and pronounced double standard within the Federal system.

This case–and the organizing around it– have been a watershed moment to shine a light on the larger treatment of the Muslim population. Agent provocateurs besiege our communities to entrap our population; illegal and pervasive surveillance have grown commonplace. The government sows fear about our community as something radical and violent while Muslims in this country are witnesses to some of the most horrendous acts against Muslims at home and abroad. Torture and prisoner abuse at Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, and the MCC in NYC are only examples. The language is clever to define radicalism in very broad terms so any sign of Muslims increasing faith or criticizing the US government is inherently a sign of radicalism. The “see something say something” paradigm fosters this atmosphere of mistrust and hate.

There is clearly a clever and inflammatory campaign on Islam and Muslims and it is having a devastating effect on families and communities across the country. It is necessary for the government to change its stance, and policies regarding treatment of Muslims. As we have shown through this case many Muslims and non-Muslims will not be silenced about these rights abuses and will demand justice, fairness and humane treatment.

STATEMENT OF THE FAMILY OF SYED FAHAD HASHMI