Press Release: National Day of Action in Solidarity with the Holy Land Five

 

Press Statement For Immediate Release: 

National Day of Action in Solidarity with the Holy Land Five

Leaders of the anti-war and Palestine solidarity movements, joined by civil liberties advocates, are planning a Free the Holy Land Five national day of action on October 25, 2012. 

The protest is part of a 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 Five 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 Five 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 Five 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 national day will raise public awareness about the injustice and is joined by events in eight American cities and Gaza, Palestine. 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.” 

FFI:  stopfbi.net.   Tom Burke, Committee to Stop FBI Repression at 773-844-3612