The Indictment

On February 20, 2003, Sami Al-Arian was arrested on a 50-count indictment for violations of the racketeering and other federal laws. Al-Arian, the Department of Justice claimed, was one of those enablers who handle the nuts and bolts of a lethal organization. He did not commit the acts of terror himself, so the Department said, he merely made them possible. The case was built on a vast array of intercepted communications, but the way these communications were obtained, transcribed, translated, and interpreted threatened to make this, as one astute young fellow suggested (with depressing enthusiasm) the most complicated legal muddle since the O.J. trial.

The indictment immediately changed the politics and the legalities of the situation. Some of Al-Arian's critics claimed vindication, and went on an offensive against Muslims, academics, leftists, etc. It was a complicated moment for those, like the United Faculty of Florida, who had taken the more subtle position of supporting Al-Arian's rights. Such subtlety was lost as many people (including some who should have known better) saw the union's position as support for Al-Arian himself.

But first ... On Feb. 20, the UFF proposed to the Board of Trustees that they file a petition for an ``amended certification.'' Such a petition would propose to the Public Employees Relations Commission that the old certification (of UFF representing faculty and the Florida Board of Education being the employer) be changed so that the Board of Trustees would be the employer, but otherwise there would be no changes from the status quo of Jan. 7, when the contract was in force. The proposal was presented in a presentation by Chapter Vice President Mark Klisch, who departed from prepared notes in his presentation.

On the morning of Feb. 20, Al-Arian, a USF doctoral student (Sameeh Hammoudeh), and two others in the United States were arrested for violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) act (Title 42 of the U.S. Code, Chapter 96). The Department of Justice announced that Members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad arrested, charged with racketeering and conspiracy to provide support for terrorists. The 50-count indictment lists eight men, including Al-Arian, as senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The indictment describes Al-Arian as the North American leader of the PIJ.
The indictment (a 121-page .pdf file) (United States District Court, Middle District of Florida) names eight defendents: Sami Amin Al-Arian, Ramadan Abdullah Shallah (current Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad), Bashir Musa Nafi (in Great Britain), Sameeh Hammoudeh, Abd Al Aziz Awda, Ghassan Zayed Ballut, and Hatim Naji Fariz. The indictment also lists an Unindicted Co-conspirator Twelve (apparently Mazen Al-Najjar). Here is a brief synopsis of the indictment (the careful reader may want to compare the following with the timeline in the Before Sept. 11 page). Most of the indictment consists of Count One, Conspiracy to commit racketeering. First there are 42 allegations that lack specifics about the crime alleged (date, place, etc). Two major points:

• On January 23, 1995, President Clinton issued Executive Order 12947 which, among other things, proscribed financial transactions with the PIJ or HAMAS. And on October 8, 1997, Secretary of State Albright designated the PIJ and HAMAS as terrorist organizations, making it illegal to give them material resources or support.
• The eight defendents are accused of forming a PIJ Enterprise, which the indictment contends recruited members, committed violent crimes (including murder), carried out public relations functions, and manages finances and other nuts & bolts operations for the PIJ. The PIJ Enterprise also used covert means to assist PIJ operatives and terrorists.

• The first 22 overt acts, covering December 22, 1988 to Dec. 30, 1993 (recall that the Intifada started in December, 1987, and ended in late 1993), are a melange alleging that he said vicious things, praised vicious things, was praised for vicious things, that other vicious people did vicious things, that people transferred money from here to there for unknown reasons, and that Al-Arian ``filed a false application'' for citizenship.
• Overt acts 23 to 121 cover Jan. 9, 1994 to Jan. 22, 1995, the period that the Palestinian Authority was coming into being, before Executive Order 12947. It enumerates a long sequence of intercepted telephone conversations and fax transmissions. They describe a fractious discussion of money (mostly in the range of thousands or tens of thousands of dollars), money management, lines of authority, etc. Interspersed are communications on lethal acts of violence in the Israel or the Occupied Territories. By Fall, the acts consist largely of fax transmissions of press releases.
• Overt acts 122 (Jan. 25, 1995) to 124 (Feb. 6, 1995) involve discussions of Executive Order 12947. An otherwise unidentified Unindicted Co-Conspirator Four appears.
• Overt Acts 125 (Feb. 6, 1995) to 150 (April 7, 1995) involve more public relations, finances, and occasional violence (these seem to be discussions occurring in the aftermath of violence). The careful reader of the Before Sept. 11 page may recall that during this semester, Al-Najjar had visa troubles (his salary was paid directly to WISE for legal reasons) and Shallah's classroom performance was deteriorating: Shallah would leave USF at the end of the semester, reporting that his father was ill.
• Overt Act 151 is the April 9, 1995 PIJ bombing that killed Aliza Flatow, a 20-year-old American, while riding a bus in Gaza. Overt Acts 152 and 153 concerned communications involving the defendents in the aftermath.
• Overt Acts 154 (April 11, 1995) to 180 (Oct. 25, 1995) involved more such communications, with more nervousness, concerns about an investigation by a local newspaper, general problems with the media, and plans for defendents to distance themselves from each other.
• Overt Act 181 (on or about Oct. 30, 1995) has an ``Unindicted Co-Conspirator Two'' telling Al-Arian that PIJ Secretary General Fathi Shikaki was assassinated. Overt Acts 182 (Oct. 31, 1995) to 184 (Nov. 2, 1995) concern the fallout from Shallah's appointment as PIJ General Secretary. (Recall that PIJ General Secretary Fathi Shikaki was assassinated in late October, 1995, and succeeded by Ramadan Shallah.)
• Overt Acts 185 and 186 (on or about Nov. 20, 1995) describe some items siezed during the FBI searches of Al-Arian's offices and home. These include a ``Manifesto of the PIJ,'' a letter from 1992, a pact between PIJ and HAMAS, a description of a hostile intelligence apparatus within the USA, and a letter dated (but was it sent?) Jan. 22, 1995, asking for money for PIJ operations. Overt Acts 187 (Dec. 8, 1995) to 189 (Jan. 11, 1996) consist of conversations.
• Overt Act 190 is a March 4, 1996 PIJ bombing that wounded two Americans.
• Overt Acts 191 (Sept. 14, 1996) to 194 (on or about Mar. 17) consist of suggestive communications.
• On May 19, 1997, Mazen Al-Najjar was arrested for visa violations.
• Overt Acts 195 (Aug. 11, 1997) to 222 (Aug. 8, 2000) largely consist of coded messages with financial interpretations, more financial discussions (some of which seem out of place, e.g., in Act 220, Hammoudeh wants a raise).
• Overt Acts 223 (Aug. 8, 2000) to 226 (Aug. 24, 2000) concerned a difficulty in getting terrorism expert Ziad Abu Amr to testify at an INS hearing in support of Unindicted Co-Conspirator Twelve. (Al-Najjar was released Dec. 15, 2000, after the Oct. 27 hearing, when Judge Kevin McHugh ruled that ``The court has not been presented with any [non-secret] evidence linking (Al-Najjar) to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.'')
• Overt Acts 227 (on or about Oct. 10, 2000) to 237 (June 5, 2002) describes more fundraising and violence, no dots connected save one: in Acts 238 and 239, Fariz seems unhappy to hear from Ballut that a recent bombing was perpetrated by the PIJ. Note that the recent epidemic of violence (which the PIJ calls The Second Intifada) in Israel and the Occupied Territories began that October.
• Overt Act 240 (on or about June 7, 2002) to 255 (on or about Dec. 9, 2002) concerned funding problems, concerns that Al-Arian might be arrested, discussions of the internal state of the PIJ, and acts of violence, again in Israel and the occupied territories.
• Overt Act 256 appears to be a legal device: ``The Grand Jury realleges and incorporates by reference the acts alleged ...''

• Count Two seems to be some kind of introduction.
• Count Three accused the defendents of using WISE, ICP, and the IAF to support the PIJ, and drew connections between the dots enumerated in the Overt Acts. (C)(3)(l) notes that the defendents are alleged to have known about Executive Order 12947, and yet subsequent Overt Acts occured (including receiving and sending ``communications about Palestinian terrorism''). (C)(3)(t) & (u) notes that the PIJ and HAMAS were proscribed in Oct. 7, 1997, and contends that the defendents still continued to assist these two organizations.
• Count Four describes Executive Order 12947.
• Counts Five through Forty-Four (that's the section heading) enumerates some of the Overt Acts, and contends that each was a violation of the RICO act. The Overt Acts listed begins with Overt Act 145 (Mar. 18, 1995), which had some defendents querying a ``Brother Yousef'' to find out how many PIJ members had been recently arrested, and ends with Overt Act 255 (Dec. 9, 2002), in which Fariz complains to a magazine reporter that PIJ did not get the credit for a ``terrorist attack in Hebron.''
• Count Forty-five is Al-Arian's attempt to procure citizenship. He is accused of concealing is involvement with the PIJ in his Dec. 30, 1993 application for citizenship, and for falsely denying that he had ``ever ordered, incited, assisted or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person because of race, religion, national origin, or political opinion ...''
• Count Forty-Six is a similar charge against Hammoudeh.
• Count Forty-Seven is Obstruction of Justice, and Counts Forty-Eight, Forty-Nine, and Fifty are Perjury, all aimed at alleged false statements made during Al-Najjar's INS hearings.

• The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (or RICO) Act.
• The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (or USA PATRIOT) (Public Law 107-56), a 132-page document.

• The AP published a huge sequence of articles on Feb. 20. The 2 pm State & Regional posting (BC cycle at 2 pm) quoted Ashcroft describing the PIJ as ``one of the most violent terrorist organizations in the world.'' Al-Arian was quoted saying, ``It's all about politics.'' See for example, the ABC Action News & AP story USF professor Sami Al-Arian arrested on terror charges reporting that Al-Arian is on a hunger strike, even refusing fluids.
• CNN reported that FBI charges Florida professor with terrorist activities Seven others named in 50-count indictment, and quoted Ashcroft saying, ``The Palestinian Islamic Jihad is responsible for the murder of over 100 people ... including at least two Americans ...'' CNN also aired segments on Government Claims Man Arrested Heads Palestinian Islamic Jihad in U.S. and War on Terrorism: 3 Arrested in Florida, 1 in Illinois and War on Terror with ``CNN terrorism expert'' Mike Brooks, who explained why it may have taken many years for the Department of Justice to develop a case. The last transcript contained a transcript of Ashcroft's press conference, in which he mentioned the Patriot Act many times, refused to say if there was anything unusual about USF, and declined to connect the PIJ and Al-Qaeda.
• Fox News reported that Florida Professor Charged With Operating Global Terror Organization, and ran a profile of Al-Arian. Fox also ran the divergent view of two mideast experts: Mideast Academics in U.S. React to Arrest and a profile of the PIJ. The Big Story reported that *Florida College Professor Arrested on Charges of Terrorism and had an *Interview With John Loftus. And the O'Reilly Factor announced that *Florida Professor Arrested for Suspected Terrorist Ties, where O'Reilly said of his pursuit of Al-Arian, ``Thus, we stood alone on Sami Al-Arian,'' an announcement that would generate a comic thread for the next few days.
• MSNBC reported that U.S. indicts 8 it says ran terror group: 4 alleged leaders of Palestinian group jailed in Florida, Illinois.
• NPR reported that ``University of South Florida professor among four in the US arrested and charged with providing financing and support for a terrorist organization.''
• UPI reported that *4 arrested for alleged terror membership , and that the indictment claims that the PIJ was founded in the 1970s, and quotes Council of American-Islamic Relations Chair Omar Ahmad saying, ``We are very concerned that the government would bring charges after investigating an individual for many years without offering any evidence of criminal activity ... This action could leave the impression that Al Arian's arrest is based on political considerations, not legitimate national security concerns.''
• U.S. Newswire carried the press release *ADL Commends Law Enforcement for Arrests of Suspected Terrorist Supporters, quoting Anti-Defamatin League Southern Area Director Arthur Teitelbaum saying, ``We are gratified that the federal authorities have taken this decisive step in countering alleged fundraising and material support activities for terrorist organizations including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.'' The article notes that additional information can be found at the ADL website. U.S. Newswire also carried a release, *Muslims Concerned over Arrest of Florida Professor, apparently from CAIR.
• The Washington Post ran an Extra article, Fla. Professor Charged as Terror Group Leader: Eight People, Including Four U.S. Residents, Indicted. They quoted Matthew Levitt of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy saying, ``The quality and quantity of the government's evidence shows that al-Arian was deeply involved in terrorist activity, and that this is not a case of the government silencing an academic it disagrees with, as he has claimed.''
• As of 4 pm, AFX, Agence France Presse, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, the Press Association, and the White House Bulletin had also published articles on Lexis. The Bulletin Forerunner reported in *FL Professor Arrested For Alleged Links To Palestinian Terrorists that the NBC News Today Show reported that ``The government's strongest evidence: These videotapes produced by the man himself and seized in 1995.'' The PR Newswire reported that *John Loftus, Whistle Blower on Al-Arian, to Speak Locally Tonight (in Pittsburg).
• And President Genshaft broadcast a message to the USF community saying, ``After we have had an opportunity to review the indictment, we will determine whether the information it contains has any relevance to the situation at USF.''

• The Today reported that *Local Man Arrested As Part of Terrorist Cell, reporting on the arrest of Hatim Farize, one of Al-Arian's co-defendents. One neighbor said, ``He was quiet and a really friendly guy, I can't believe he's a terrorist,'' but a more suspicious one said, ``Pretty frequently, we would see him standing in his front yard or in his garage late at night talking on a cell phone ... We thought that was weird.''

• Al-Arian indicted: A 120-page indictment claims Sami Al-Arian is the North American leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The lead was: ``Sami Al-Arian looked tired and sullen. He slumped low in his seat and stared forward at the table in front of him, remaining mostly motionless. The only perceptible sound coming from him was the soft jingle of the chains on his legs.''
• The Oracle reported that Genshaft: Arrest won't change course. President Genshaft is quoted saying, ``I was not particularly surprised by this...There had been rumors that something like this might happen for quite some time.'' BOT Chairman Dick Beard said, ``The president at this university has handled this as well as it could be handled.''
• The Oracle also reported that Faculty, students sound off on Al-Arian. USF Student President Mike Griffin said, ``It's scary to think that someone of this much evil has had a place in our campus, close to our students, close to our faculty, for such a long period of time.'' USF Amnesty International President Arnesh Karve said, ``I still believe that a man is innocent until proven guilty.''

• The lead story read: Terror Indictments: Al-Arian raised money for terrorists, feds say: The USF professor is among eight defendants accused of financing, managing and supervising Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The story reports that arrest was made at 5:15 am, Thursday, and it reports that the indictment concentrates on alleged activity during the mid-1990s, when the PIJ was apparently in financial difficulty.
• Below the fold was a story on Ms Al-Arian: After years of worry about her husband: 'They're here', in which Ms Al-Arian is quoted saying, ``What's happening to my husband is unfair. Its destroying my family, affecting my kids.''
• Also arrested was Sameeh Hammoudeh: Hammoudeh a bright scholar, USF peers say, with colleagues expressing surprise.
• Also arrested was Hatem Farize: Fariz worked for doctor, visited Mecca recently, whose employer said, ``As a physician committed to healing, I cannot comprehend the support of any organization or individuals who commit senseless acts of evil. And I will do everything in my power to assist in this matter.''
• Another article recounted the story of Ramadan Shallah, Jihad leader emerged from shadows of USF, the former USF adjunct and WISE staffer who became head of the PIJ in 1995.
• The Times media critic looked at the immediate radio and TV reactions, and reported that Balance sometimes lacking in TV's Al-Arian coverage. The impression of this article is that the daytime commentary was a bit ... flaky ... but become a bit more sensible by evening.
• Another article claimed that USF faces decisions on Al-Arian, and said that BOT Chairman Dick Beard vowed to fire Al-Arian: ``We're not going to sit on our hands,'' calling this a ``a good day for USF.'' USF Faculty Senate President Greg Paveza said, ``I think from a faculty standpoint most of us will take a position that this is the United States: A person is innocent until proven guilty.''
• And an article said that Local Muslims deny Al-Arian fits government description, which quoted Mohammed Al-Dahoud saying, ``The government is just doing something to make the public feel that they are doing something,'' and PRIMER head Norman Gross rejoicing, ``There is a God.''
• A background article opined that Intercepting evidence likely took 'small army', and quoted former federal prosecutor John Fitzgibbons saying, ``There had to be literally a small army of federal agents who worked on the case''; Fitzgibbons said that the trial could take six months.
• Another background article reported Al-Arian's rise in U.S. began in academics: He came to America in 1975 to study and became a professor. He was admired by students and led Islamic causes.
• An analysis article suggested that Context clues indicate unnamed co-conspirator is Mazen Al-Najjar.
• Another analysis article inspired by Ashcroft's comments said that Breach in 'the wall' opened intelligence to investigators, i.e., that this indictment was made possible by the PATRIOT act.
• One article gave Sami Al-Arian, in his words.
• The Times ran an editorial on The Al-Arian indictment: Whether or not it amounted to criminal conduct, the USF professor's activity in support of an Islamic terrorist group is laid out in damning detail. But when Howard Troxler asks Which face of Al-Arian should be believed? and notes that while the indictment is damning, the credibility of federal prosecutions here in Tampa (with the Aisenberg case still going on) has been severely compromised, and he suggests that some of the counts are not compelling.

• The lead article, entitled Terror Traced To Tampa started with a presumption of guilt, and then qualified.
• Many subsidiary reports were posted on the Tampa Bay On-line site, on a special page devoted to the Al-Arian case:
  • At the top right, Case Drives Fear Home For Muslims, which quoted Rev. Warren Clark of the Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality (HOPE) saying, '`I know particularly in his community - his mosque - there's got to be deep sadness.''
  • Then Bashir Nafi, the indictee in Britain: British-Based Suspect Says U.S. Indictment Is 'Absurd'.
  • Then a very brief list of The Charges.
  • Then there were several links to videos.
  • Then there were related stories:
    • There was a Q&A page: Deciphering The Controversy.
    • There was a chronology: The Al-Arian Story: A History. This chronology says that the PIJ was founded in 1979.
    • Compiled from AP, there is a Transcript Of Ashcroft Statement.
    • Then a background piece on the murder of an American and how that played a part in this case: American's Death A Key To Case.
    • But still, USF, Academics Remain At Impasse Over Job, and Genshaft said, ``After we've had an opportunity to review the indictment, we will decide on its relevance to USF. The arrest itself does not change our course.''
    • Then there was From Shrugs To Shock, Embroiled Campus Reacts.
    • Then a few quotes from PIJ general secretary Ramadan Shallah on how Group Uses Violence `To Liberate Palestine', and quotes Shallah saying, ``All in the Zionist entity are targeted, except children.''
    • Then the Tampa Tribune would like readers to know who is really responsible for the indictment: O'Reilly-Come-Lately Takes Unwarranted Credit In Al-Arian Arrest.
    • And a concluding Editor's note About This Story

• Agence France Presse reported that ``US indicts, arrests Islamic Jihad leaders'' and ``Islamic Jihad denies US charges against eight Palestinians.''
• AP reported that "In Gaza, Islamic Jihad says it won't target Americans despite U.S. arrests." The story quotes a PIJ leader saying that all the indictees, save Shallah himself, ``either left the movement or the movement froze their membership more than 10 years ago.'' AP published a huge number of stories, including ``Arrest of Florida professor comes after years of shadowy accusations'' and ``Tampa's Muslim community skittish after professor's arrest.''
• The Atlanta JOurnal & Constitution reported that ``Four held for alleged terror ties; Fla. professor among men linked to Mideast group.''
• The Boston Globe reported that ``US Indicts 8 in Mideast Terror Attacks: Two of those Held Taught at University of South Florida.''
• The Chicago Sun reported that ``Tinley Park man charged in Israeli terror plot'' and ``Supporters rally around suspect'' (referring to Ghassan Zayed Ballut).
• Cox News Service reported that ``Four U.S. Residents Arrested on Terrorism Charges and Alleged Links to Islamic Jihad,'' and that ``Professor says terrorism arrest 'all about politics'.''
• The Miami Herald reported that ``Indicted Miami-Area Professor Had Been under U.S. Scrutiny for A Decade'' and that ``South Florida Professor Named in Terror Plot.''
• The New York Daily News ran two stories: ``Fla. Pro in Terror Bust: Say he and 7 others aided Islamic Jihad'' and ``Parents of 2 victims still grieving for loss.''
• The electronic Chronicle of Higher Education reported that **U. of South Florida Professor Is Arrested on Charges of Aiding Terrorists.
• The Denver Post reported that ``Arrested Fla. professor was scheduled to speak at CU.
• Fox News had played a major part, beginning with Al-Arian's appearance on the O'Reilly Factor on Sept. 26, 2001. Naturally, Fox had things to say.
  • Fox News On the Record asked: Terror Arrests in Florida: Were They Planning Something? Washington Times national security reporter Bill Gertz said, ``The one thing missing from the indictment is there's no al Qaeda connection. ... I think we're going to see more arrests.''
  • On the O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly gave a soliloquy on It's Good to be Right, in which he ran the tape of Al-Arian's appearance on the show.
  • Matt Epstein of the Investigative Project appeared on the O'Reilly Factor to discuss How Dangerous is Professor Sami Al-Arian? Epstein said, ``Well, Bill, reading the indictment today, the evilness of this man is beyond apparent,'' while O'Reilly said, ``... you can't convict him on television. So he's innocent until proven guilty.''
• The Guardian reported that ``FBI arrests academic on terror charges: Muslim whose suspension sparked outcry is accused of being a leader of Islamic Jihad .''
• The London Daily Telegraph reported that ``University professor held on Islamic Jihad charges.''
• The New York Daily News reported that "FLA. PROF IN TERROR BUST Say he and 7 others aided Islamic Jihad," and that "Parents of 2 victims still grieving for loss."
• Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported that "Islamic Jihad denies link to four detained in United States" in a leaflet hurriedly released in Gaza.
• The Financial Times reported that "US charges eight with backing terror group."
• Fox News O'Reilly Factor interviewed John Podhoretz, following an announcement that ``The elite media on the defensive after the arrest of Sami Al-Arian.''
• The Guardian reported that "FBI arrests academic on terror charges: Muslim whose suspension sparked outcry is accused of being a leader of Islamic Jihad."
• The Jerusalem Post reported that ``US indicts eight Arabs for conspiring with Islamic Jihad.''
• Knight-Ridder reported that "Eight Arrested on Terrorism-Related Charges."
• The Los Angeles Times reported that "Florida Professor Charged in Terrorism Case; Sami Al-Arian is accused along with seven others of supporting a Palestinian group linked to suicide bombings. Four are still at large."
• The Michigan Daily reported that Students question, react to Al-Arian arrest.
• The National (Financial) Post reported that ``U.S. uncovers Canadian links to Islamic Jihad: Financing and visa fraud: Solicitor-General says allegations are 'disturbing'.''
• National Review columnist David Frum disapprovingly noted in The Strange Case of Sami Al-Arian that ``The Bush campaign in 2000 very determinedly reached out to Muslim voters. Indeed, Muslim-Americans may have tipped the election to George Bush,'' but noted that at least ``Over the past year, the White House has become much more selective about its invitations.''
• The New York Times reported that "THREATS AND RESPONSES: THE MONEY TRAIL; Indictment Ties U.S. Professor To Terror Group."
• Newsday reported that ``Indicting Terror; Florida professor among 4 arrested, tied to Islamic Jihad.''
• NPR ran a segment on ``Stephen Saltzburg discusses the effect of the Patriot Act of 2001 in the arrest of Sami Al-Arian.''
• The Ottawa Citizen reported that ``U.S. rounds up alleged terror leaders: College professor among 8 suspected Islamic Jihad agents'' and ``Professor's arrest follows a decade of vitriolic comment: Sami Al-Arian's case has already prompted spirited debate on academic freedom.''
• The Press Association reported on Bashir Nafi: ``Terrorist suspect lives in Britain - FBI.''
• The Clevelan Plain Dealer reported that ``Imam here is linked to terror suspect,'' and speculated on the identity of Unindicted Co-Conspirator One.
• On Feb. 21, Salon.com asked, Is Sami Al-Arian guilty of terrorist plots?, and quoted former CIA counter-terrorism chief Vincent Cannistraro saying, ``There was a real debate inside the Department of Justice about his case, ... There's been an incredible amount of pressure from Israel to move on it. They've been asking for a long time that we move against Islamic Jihad in the U.S., and that's what pushed Ashcroft to move.'' Salon.com reported that Ha'aretz reported that ``... Israel was involved in obtaining Al-Arian's suspension ...,'' but the webmaster could not find that Ha'aretz article at Ha'aretz's unhelpful web-site. The story noted that supporting the PIJ became illegal in the USA only in 1995, and Georgetown Constitutional Law Professor (and attorney for Al-Arian's brother-in-law) David Cole said, ''The evidence in the indictment becomes much more sparse after 1995.'' UFF Senator and former USF Faculty Senate President Nancy Tyson said, ``Knowing Sami personally and knowing his family for quite some time, I'm inclined to think it's another political move,'' while UFF USF Chapter President Mark Klisch said, ``We don't support his politics. Our position is to ensure he's entitled to due process ... We are committed to treating him like any other person who's innocent until proven guilty.''
• The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported that ``Speakers criticize Patriot Act at Sarasota Green Party event,'' Sarasota is just south of Tampa Bay.
• The Scotsman reported that ``Egyptian in Britain Charged with Helping Islamic Jihad.''
• The St. Louis Dispatch reported that ``U.S. Professor is Accused of Aiding Mideast Terrorism; Indictment Says He, 7 Others Funded Palestinian Violence.''
• USA Today reported that "FBI charges Fla. professor as terror fundraiser" and that "Professor was watched throughout 1990s But evidence wasn't shared until November."
• The Washington Post reported that Professor Indicted as Terrorist Leader.
• The Xinhua News Service reported that ``Eight indicted in US with supporting terrorist group.''

A Statement

At the Feb. 21 USF Chapter meeting of UFF, the Chapter made the following resolution:
The United Faculty of Florida defends the contractual and due process rights of those it represents. Professor Sami Al-Arian is in the bargaining unit at the University of South Florida, and we defend his rights related to his job on campus, as we do for all faculty members.
Our only comment on the pending criminal case is to affirm the right of every person to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.