Since his arrival to the jail in Alexandria, Al-Arian has experienced numerous violations of his human rights and dignity, said Laila Al-Arian, who had just visited her father three days prior to the screening.
Al-Arian is on suicide watch at the jail, which means all of his clothing has been confiscated, including his eyeglasses and drinking cup.
"He looked extremely thin and very weak," Laila Al-Arian said during the screening. "He says he lost 35 pounds. I think he lost more than that."
Laila has been touring the nation, raising money for her father’s legal defense fund and screening "USA vs. Al-Arian," a civil rights documentary directed by Line Halvorsen, an acclaimed Norwegian director.
The April 17 screening was organized by the Council on American-Islamic Relations – Greater Los Angeles Area, the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, MSA-West, Islamic Center of Irvine, Orange County Islamic Foundation, Palestinian American Society, MSU-UCI and Visual-Sound. CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush gave welcoming remarks, and the panel discussion featured Laila Al-Arian and Ahmed Bedier, president of the Tampa/Hillsborough Human Rights Council.
The goal of the event was to educate viewers on Al-Arian’s case. People also donated money to Al-Arian’s legal defense fund.
The 99-minute documentary follows the Al-Arian family during Al-Arian’s turbulent trial and the emotional chain of events that would later develop.
Al-Arian was acquitted of most of the charges he was tried for in 2005, after more than two years of incarceration and a six-month trial. When he was arrested, the U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft claimed at a news conference that the leader of a global terror cell had been captured. However, the trial brought about a stunning defeat for the government, and cost 50 million in taxpayer dollars.
Despite the jury’s acquittal, Al-Arian was never released from jail, and under a plea deal that promised deportation, he was eventually forced to admit guilt, Al-Arian’s lawyers said in the documentary.
When a reporter in the documentary asked one of the jurors after the trial what it would take for him to find Al-Arian guilty, the juror replied: "Evidence."
In spite of a lack of substantiation to condemn Al-Arian, the plea was not honored by the judge, who sentenced Al-Arian to a maximum jail term, calling him a "master manipulator."
"The government had its chance to prove its case against Dr. Al-Arian, and the jury found no evidence to convict him on any of the dozens of charges brought against him," Ayloushsaid. "By refusing to release Dr. Al-Arian, our government is imposing the punishment it could not get from a jury of his peers, effectively holding him as a political prisoner on behalf of the State of Israel for his activism for the Palestinian people. This injustice by proxy has to end."
After more than two years of wrongful imprisonment and human rights violations, Laila Al-Arian fears a criminal contempt charge is looming for her father, who says he has lost faith in the American judicial system.
Laila Al-Arian is encouraging Americans to donate to her father’s legal defense fund.
Bedier said Al-Arian’s arrest may have been a strategic move to scare the Muslim community.
"But we’re no longer afraid," said Bedier.
Bedier encouraged Muslims to voice their disagreement with the justice system’s alleged discrimination against Muslims. "Forget about these fringe right-wing groups," he said regarding the individuals protesting the documentary screening and pressuring the theater to cancel the contract. "Our voice could be just as loud," he said.
Those attending the screening strongly supported a quick and just resolution to Al-Arian’s tribulations. There has been an awakening in the Muslim community in recent years about the case, and many are protesting Al-Arian’s incarceration and mistreatment nationwide.
"There are thousands of (prisoners) like (Al-Arian) around the world," said Amin Eshaker, 24, who heard about the screening on the radio. "I am really committed to this cause, and I’m looking for a just outcome," he said.
"Every American should be concerned about this issue," said Muhammad Ali, 26, a native of Las Vegas, Nev. "It could happen to anybody, just ask the jurors."
"It’s been so encouraging and inspiring for my family that my father’s case is picking up steam, thanks to the Muslim community," Laila Al-Arian said before the show, adding that it makes her optimistic about the American Muslim community.
"It also makes me proud to be an American Muslim," she said. "Before, it was church groups supporting my dad; now it’s Muslim youth."
Also amongst the crowd was rap artist, Everlast, and music producer DJ Fred Wreck, who both expressed disgust at the treatment of Al-Arian and offered Laila Al-Arian assistance.
"Muslims are the new Russians," said Everlast, 38, who converted to Islam at the age of 23.
"There is a bias against Arabs in this country, just like there is a bias against Arabs in Israel," said Wreck, who is of Palestinian descent.
Nearly six years down the tumultuous detour in her family’s life, Laila Al-Arian says her faith is stronger than ever, though it has not been easy.
"My faith has been tested for the past five years. Seeing support from people, both Muslim and non-Muslim, has reinforced my faith," she said prior to the screening. "In the end, God is greater than everything else, so our faith rests with Him."
Laila Al-Arian, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and received a master’s in journalism from Columbia University, concluded her visit to California with an appearance at UCLA on April 18 for a dialogue.
"Collateral Damage: America’s War Against Iraqi Civilians," a book co-authored by Laila Al-Arian, will appear on bookshelves in June.
