28 April 2010By
El-Hajj Mauri’ Saalakhan
Assalaamu Alaikum (Greetings of Peace): Please share
this information with others.
Why the May 6 Mobilization
for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui Must Go On!
As we
near the date of a very important press conference at
the
National Press Club
in Washington, DC (Thursday, April 29th), I
am encouraged by the number of coalition partners who
have remained united in their commitment to
The May 6 Mobilization
- despite the court’s decision to change the date of
Dr. Siddiqui’s sentencing to July 21, 2010. (Alhamdullilah,
we’ve even added about a half dozen new endorsers
since the announcement was made!)
With
that said, I would like to address the concerns of
those who wonder why we decided against changing the
date of this very important initiative.
The
reasons are as follows:
- This
federal court has a two year history of changing
dates in this precedent-setting case (sometimes in
the 11th hour); and that’s one of the
reasons why we decided (and announced), early on,
that if this were to occur with Aafia’s sentencing
the mobilization would still continue on May 6 as
planned, insha’Allah (God willing).
- Concerned
citizens near and far (both Muslim and non-Muslim)
have been planning to support the
mobilization on May 6. If we were to change the date
in mid-stream, some people would be significantly
inconvenienced and not everyone would receive notice
of the change. I have personally seen, on many
occasions over the years, how disappointments of
this nature can affect morale and future
support for very important initiatives.
- I know
for a FACT that court changes (especially in the 11th
hour) - in cases that draw a significant amount of
public attention and community support for the
defendant in the dock - are often done to confuse
and dampen support for a
political prisoner
like Aafia. (It is my understanding that this
particular change was requested by government
prosecutors in the case.)
- It is my
long held view that activists need to stop basing so
much of their activism on what the opposition does
or doesn’t do; in short, we need to stop being so
reactive and become more proactive with
our “progressive” agenda.
Some
benefits from adhering to May 6
- It will
demonstrate to the powers-that-be that the
supporters of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui are serious and
determined in their support.
- It will
provide us with the opportunity to send a message of
concern and outrage to the U.S. Government and
the court. (Initially, the goal of The May 6
Mobilization was to send a message solely to the
government.)
- It
provides us with an opportunity to officially
broaden the announced agenda for the
mobilization to include all Muslim
political prisoners.
- It should
help to highlight and expand support for a young
brother whose trial will begin one week before
The May 6 Mobilization (at the same courthouse
where Aafia was tried). The brother’s name is
Fahad Hashmi.
He’s been under a very oppressive pre-trial
detention regime for the past three years…while
waiting to go on trial!
- It will
provide supporters of Dr.
Aafia Siddiqui
with an opportunity to mount a second major
mobilization on her behalf on July 21 (the new
sentencing date), insha’Allah.
- If the
mobilization comes off as planned, it will provide
Muslims in America (and concerned citizens within
the community-at-large) with a much needed morale
boost for the struggle ahead!
There
you have it. These are the reasons why we’ve decided
to go forward with The May 6 Mobilization
in support and defense of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui (and all
other Muslim political prisoners in America), as
planned.
Before
concluding I should emphasize the importance of the
upcoming press conference, scheduled for Thursday,
April 29, at the
National Press Club
in downtown Washington, DC. We expect to have some
very accomplished and committed speakers at this
conference. On the agenda will be the very important
“Preemptive Prosecution Resolution” that was
recently passed by the Common Council of Albany, NY.
I
should also point out, for our readers and supporters
in Tri-State
New York,
that the last jumah I will address before
The May 6 Mobilization
will be at the ICNA Center in Jamaica, New
York, on Friday, April 30th (insha’Allah).
To
all of the masajid and centers who have opened their
doors to us over the past few months in support of
this cause: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Now
that the sentencing date has been pushed back (to July
21st), we will need for other masajid and
centers to follow suit in the days ahead, so that
critical momentum is not lost in our ongoing pursuit
of the ultimate goal: the freedom of our oppressed
sister, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, and ALL
POLITICAL PRISONERS!
The
struggle continues (May ALLAH strengthen and preserve
us),
El-Hajj Mauri’ Saalakhan, Director of Operations, The
Peace thru Justice Foundation Office:
(301) 762-9162 E-mail:
peacethrujustice@aol.com
(org)
ssaala@aol.com
(personal)
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