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Vol. 72/No. 43      November 3, 2008

 
U.S.-born Pakistani fights conspiracy charge
 
BY TOM BAUMANN  
NEW YORK—Supporters of Syed Fahad Hashmi packed the U.S. District Court in Manhattan October 14 in support of his fight for justice. Hashmi, a U.S. citizen, is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to al-Qaeda.

After graduating from Brooklyn College in 2003, Hashmi continued his education at London Metropolitan University. While there sometime in 2004 he allowed an acquaintance, Junaid Babar, to stay at his apartment for two weeks. The charges claim that Babar brought with him luggage that contained ponchos and other rain gear. The government alleges that at some point Babar gave the rain gear to a high-ranking member of al-Qaeda, which Hashmi’s indictment describes as “military gear.”

Babar, who was arrested by the FBI in New York in 2004, faced 70 years on charges of involvement in a terrorist plot in London. He cut a deal to provide evidence against Hashmi and others in exchange for a reduced sentence, according to press reports.

Hashmi was arrested at London’s Heathrow airport as he was preparing to board a flight to Pakistan to visit family. He was held in Belmarsh prison for 11 months before being extradited to the United States. Even though Hashmi is not charged with providing money or weapons to al-Qaeda, he continues to be held under Special Administrative Measures. He is on 23-hour lockdown. Aside from one visit from an immediate family member per week, he has no other contact with people besides prison officials and his lawyer.

In addition to these draconian conditions, the court may withhold the prosecution’s evidence from Hashmi and his attorneys. New charges can be presented against him up until the day before his trial begins and he is not allowed to speak or give statements through his lawyers to the press.

Support for Hashmi is mounting, however. As of August 18, some 500 academics and professionals have signed a petition opposing his treatment in prison. The list of signatories includes well-known political activists Noam Chomsky, Angela Davis, and Joshua Cohen.

At the court hearing Sean Maher, Hashmi’s lawyer, thanked everyone for attending and encouraged all to be present at the next hearing. For more information, visit www.freefahad.com.  
 
 
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