A stand against repression targeting Muslims

WASHINGTON--Muslims from around the U.S. turned out here January 28 to stand against the wave of government repression that has targeted their communities since September 11.

The day started at 9 a.m. in Alexandra, Va., as a federal court heard an appeal for Ali Asad Chandia, a Pakistani-American who was charged in 2006 with "material support" of a Kashmiri organization fighting for independence from India. Chandia was sentenced to 15 years in prison, despite virtually no evidence of his involvement in any crime. The Alexandra federal courthouse was packed and overflowing with his supporters.

Coined as a "Mobilization for Justice," the protest was intended to shine a light on the rise of Islamophobia and unjust attacks on Muslims in the U.S. The protest was led by Families United for Justice in America, and supporters included the Fort Dix 5 Support Committee, Justice for Shifa Committee, the International Socialist Organization, Peace Thru Justice and many others.

Later, more than 30 people gathered at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in downtown Washington for an afternoon prayer and a short logistical meeting. The executive director of Peace Thru Justice, El-Hajj Mauri Saalakhan, led the prayer with quotes from Martin Luther King and focused on the importance of standing up for justice for all.

Protesters traveled from Georgia, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Texas, Maryland and elsewhere to attend. Most had family members who have been unjustly convicted since September 11.

Laila Yaghi came from Raleigh, N.C. She has been fighting for justice for her son, Ziyad Yaghi, who has been in prison for the past year-and-a-half based on the suspicion that he had "terrorist ties." Following trips to his mother's homeland of Jordan and the West Bank to visit family in 2006, the family's apartment was raided, and Ziyad was taken by the FBI.

In an interview, Laila described struggling as a single mom and facing poverty as she cuts back on her employment hours in order to fight for her son's freedom. "I feel alone, as other Muslims in my community are scared to come out and fight this," she stated, adding that the climate of repression and fear "has gotten worse under President Obama."

Another young man, Mohammad Kandil from Houston, came to stand in defense of his imam (spiritual leader), Zoubir Bourchikhi, who was recently deported to Algeria. Since 2008, Bourchikhi had been in an immigration jail on charges of being an "arriving alien"--despite the fact that he has been in the U.S. since 1998.

Bourchikhi's deportation has left his wife and four children--three of whom are American citizens--in a vulnerable position, since he was the main provider for the family. "This is a man who brought comfort to the community," said Kandil, adding that Bourchikhi's supporters are now trying to team up with immigrants rights groups in the Houston area to bring him back to the U.S.

At 2 p.m., the crowd of protesters then marched to the Justice Department to submit a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder. The letter, written by Stephen Downs of Project SALAM and signed by all the families, asked Holder to review the numerous cases of Muslims that have been targeted and charged without evidence post-9/11.

Protesters stood in front of the Justice Department holding signs that had pictures of the Fort Dix 5, reading, "Do they look like terrorists?" "Free Shifa Now" and "Stop Pre-emptive Prosecution." Speakers, including the child of one of the Fort Dix 5, addressed the crowd.

A call was made for another protest in April to coincide with the city's annual antiwar protest, which protesters will then join. Although small, the day helped lay the future foundation for a larger movement to stop the war against Muslims in the U.S.