American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee

The Washington Post today published a brilliant and principled letter on the use of secret evidence by the House Democratic Whip, Rep David Bonior (D-Mich.). The letter, which follows bellow, is a stinging condemnation of one of the most disturbing violations of fundamental human and constitutional rights in our society today. Rep. Bonior has repeatedly denounced the use of secret evidence, and continues to take a leading stance against it. We urge everyone to write, call, email or fax Rep. Bonior's office to thank and congratulate him for standing up for human and civil rights and against the use of secret evidence.
Please contact Rep. Bonior's office at:
Representative David E. Bonior
Michigan - 10th District - Democrat
2207 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-2210
Phone: (202) 225-2106
Fax: (202) 226-1169
Email: david.bonior@mail.house.gov
Website: http://davidbonior.house.gov/
Injustice in America
Washington Post
Tuesday, February 2, 1999; Page A14
The Post's Jan. 25 editorial "The Facts of the Pollard Case" rightfully decries the widening use of secret evidence. While the spy Jonathan Pollard has been duly convicted of a serious crime, dozens of individuals are imprisoned in American jails who have never been charged with any wrongdoing. Neither they nor their attorneys have been permitted to review any evidence against them -- and some have not even been told why they are being held.
The 1996 antiterrorism law, hastily passed in the wake of the bombings in Oklahoma City and at the World Trade Center in New York, allows the Immigration and Naturalization Service to arrest, detain and deport legal immigrants based on evidence whose source and substance is not revealed to the potential deportees or their counsel. This is a deplorable violation of individual liberties and due process.
Muslims have been the primary target of the secret evidence procedure. Perhaps the most egregious case is that of Mazen Al-Najjar, a scholar, engineer and editor in Tampa. Mr. Al-Najjar, a Palestinian by birth, has raised a family in Tampa since moving there in 1981. He co-founded the World and Islam Studies Enterprise (WISE) at the University of South Florida.
On May 19, 1997, agents of the FBI, and INS and local sheriff's officers arrested Mr. Al-Najjar. He was taken to an INS detention facility, where he remains today. He was denied bail on the basis of secret evidence despite having no criminal record. An independent investigation ordered by his employer, the University of South Florida, concluded that Mr. Al-Najjar has done nothing wrong. Twenty months after his arrest, he still has not been charged with a crime -- or released on bail.
Everybody in the United States -- including Mr. Al-Najjar -- should have the right to review the evidence and criminal charges against them. We should restore due process and eliminate the use of secret evidence.
DAVID E. BONIOR U.S. Representative (D-Mich.)
Washington
The writer is House Democratic Whip.

	Please Thank Rep. Bonior for Letter Denouncing Secret Evidence

	The Washington Post today published a brilliant and principled letter on the use of secret evidence by the House Democratic Whip, Rep David Bonior (D-Mich.). The letter, which follows bellow, is a stinging condemnation of one of the most disturbing violations of fundamental human and constitutional rights in our society today. Rep. Bonior has repeatedly denounced the use of secret evidence, and continues to take a leading stance against it. We urge everyone to write, call, email or fax Rep. Bonior's office to thank and congratulate him for standing up for human and civil rights and against the use of secret evidence. Please contact Rep. Bonior's office at: Representative David E. Bonior Michigan - 10th District - Democrat 2207 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-2210 Phone: (202) 225-2106 Fax: (202) 226-1169 Email: david.bonior@mail.house.gov Website: http://davidbonior.house.gov/ Injustice in America Washington Post Tuesday, February 2, 1999; Page A14 The Post's Jan. 25 editorial "The Facts of the Pollard Case" rightfully decries the widening use of secret evidence. While the spy Jonathan Pollard has been duly convicted of a serious crime, dozens of individuals are imprisoned in American jails who have never been charged with any wrongdoing. Neither they nor their attorneys have been permitted to review any evidence against them -- and some have not even been told why they are being held. The 1996 antiterrorism law, hastily passed in the wake of the bombings in Oklahoma City and at the World Trade Center in New York, allows the Immigration and Naturalization Service to arrest, detain and deport legal immigrants based on evidence whose source and substance is not revealed to the potential deportees or their counsel. This is a deplorable violation of individual liberties and due process. Muslims have been the primary target of the secret evidence procedure. Perhaps the most egregious case is that of Mazen Al-Najjar, a scholar, engineer and editor in Tampa. Mr. Al-Najjar, a Palestinian by birth, has raised a family in Tampa since moving there in 1981. He co-founded the World and Islam Studies Enterprise (WISE) at the University of South Florida. On May 19, 1997, agents of the FBI, and INS and local sheriff's officers arrested Mr. Al-Najjar. He was taken to an INS detention facility, where he remains today. He was denied bail on the basis of secret evidence despite having no criminal record. An independent investigation ordered by his employer, the University of South Florida, concluded that Mr. Al-Najjar has done nothing wrong. Twenty months after his arrest, he still has not been charged with a crime -- or released on bail. Everybody in the United States -- including Mr. Al-Najjar -- should have the right to review the evidence and criminal charges against them. We should restore due process and eliminate the use of secret evidence. DAVID E. BONIOR U.S. Representative (D-Mich.) Washington The writer is House Democratic Whip.