The Case of Fahad Hashmi

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have become involved with an organization, THAW, that is working on communicating with and educationg the public on the case of Fahad Hashmi. Below is the link to the video from last week's vigil/street theater production. This upcoming Monday (October 26, 2009), I have the privilege of being in the performance (playing the attorney) along with Tony Award Winner Bill Irwin (currently in Bye Bye Birdie on Broadway). These first two performances (last week's and this upcoming Monday's) will be the same script, as people are becoming acquainted with the case. Every Monday hereafter there will be a 'new' production/vigil. The majority of the script is taken from the court transcripts. I will try to be diligent and post the link to the video and any updates. However, I encourage you all to check out the websites THAWaction.org as well as FreeFahad.com.

My hope is to broaden all of our horizons and to perhaps inspire each of us to look a little deeper into what our government has done and continues to do, and to see that the change has to come from the people up--not the top down.

On Thursday October 29th the SAM's (explained below) are up for potential renewal. On Friday October 30th Fahad is back in court for the first time in 2 years--the last time being June 1, 2007.

"Guantanomo NYC" Monday October 19, 2009 THAW Vigil-Street Performance

The Case

The Charges
The US government accused Fahad of providing material support to Al Qaeda, but a close look at the evidence shows that the charges make little sense. Fahad is NOT charged with providing any money or resources to any terrorists or being a member of al Qaeda. Instead, the US government charged Fahad with allowing an old acquaintance — Junaid Babar — to stay in Fahad’s London apartment for about two weeks in 2004. During that two week period, Babar allegedly kept several raincoats, ponchos, and waterproof socks in luggage that Babar temporarily stored in Fahad’s apartment. The US government then alleges that at some point Babar gave the socks and ponchos to a high ranking member of al Qaeda. There is no allegation that Fahad is a member of al Qaeda or that he ever personally gave or helped to give anything to any member of al Qaeda.

Conditions of Fahad’s Imprisonment
Fahad was held in England’s Belmarsh prison mixed with the general prison population for 11 months without incident. Since his extradition to the United States more than a year ago, Fahad has been kept in solitary confinement and subject to unduly restrictive Special Administrative Measures (SAMs), These draconian measures mandate that he be kept under 23-hour lockdown, be allowed only one visit from an immediate family member a week, and have no other contact with anyone besides his lawyer and prison officials. The SAMs also limit the material that Fahad can read and make it illegal for his family members to pass any messages from him onto friends.
Fahad is not charged with any acts of violence, nor were there any accusations that he attempted to contact any terrorists during his time with the general prison population at Belmarsh, rendering the restrictions he is subject to unnecessarily cruel in a society that treats people as innocent until proven guilty. SAMs are meant to prevent crimes orchestrated from within prison walls, but even if EVERYTHING the government alleges is true, there is no evidence that Fahad would be a danger if he were kept with the general prison population.

The Evidence Against Fahad
Substantial evidence in the case will come from the testimony of Junaid Babar, the man who stayed at Fahad’s London apartment as a houseguest. There is evidence to show that Babar’s testimony may be unreliable. He has taken a plea bargain – he will receive a reduced sentence if he agrees to testify against people like Fahad. It is a common practice for the government to offer a deal to one defendant who’s accused of a lesser crime in order to convict a more serious criminal – in this case his testimony will be used try to convict somebody who gave him a place to sleep for two weeks.

Civil Liberties Concerns
Many in the civil liberties community are gravely concerned by the implications of Fahad’s case. Fahad is facing trumped-up charges as a result of his opinions. It is a dangerous precedent to make people responsible for the actions of their houseguests.
Concern also surrounds the conditions of Fahad’s detention. Even were all the charges against him true, the SAMS measures would be unwarranted. The government should exercise extreme caution when deciding when to invoke such severe restrictions. He is in solitary confinement and subject to a regime of severe deprivation. Under the SAM imposed by the Attorney General, Hashmi must be held in solitary confinement and may not communicate with anyone inside the prison other than prison officials. Family visits were not granted for many months and are now limited to one person every other week for one and a half hours, and cannot involve physical contact. Mr. Hashmi may write only one letter (of no more than three pieces of paper) per week to one family member. He may not communicate, either directly or through his attorneys, with the news media. He may read only designated portions of newspapers - and not until thirty days after their publication - and his access to other reading material is restricted. He may not listen to or watch news-oriented radio stations and television channels. He may not participate in group prayer. He is subject to 24-hour electronic monitoring and 23-hour lockdown, has no access to fresh air, and must take his one-hour of daily recreation - when it is given - inside a cage.
--Taken directly from FreeFahad.com
Full court transcript available on-line

Whispers of Adventure

As my time in Bellingham comes to an end, I can't help but admire and nostalgically stare at the odd quirks strewn about town. This is a place that I have fallen in love with, plain and simple. Four years is the longest I have lived in one place outside of my home-state, Alaska. Bellingham fed me my independence and guided me to the most encouraging and supportive people I know. It makes me sad to realize that just as I am finally given the freedom of time to truly explore the deeper intricacies and unique setting that I am in, I am leaving. Sometimes I wonder if I am just running away. Am I finding it too comfortable to stay here? What if I forever need to hold on to my nomadic tendencies and roam about the world; what about a home? In my last year of school I can remember my friends and I talking, complaining really, about Bellingham the city of subdued excitement, really. Where was the life? Where were the new people? Coming from a small town in Alaska with a population less than 10,000 while growing up, Bellingham is easily described as a city in comparison. Though, after spending four years deeply embedded in the college population (that shifts every single year, mind you) I do believe we felt like that was that. The comings and goings of our peers were no longer the exciting events that it used to be; we could feel the end nearing. No more 'new' classes or classmates...we weren't going to be part of the special population: the students. Now that I am not a student, I have to say that I love it so much. Don't get me wrong, I love to learn and being in school was enjoyable to a certain degree--but I love my afternoon runs and reading books at the park. I love having time for me, for you, for anything. Whilst I have been enjoying this time, I have come to realize that the newness of Bellingham is far more prevalent than previously realized or wanted to see. I am still meeting new people in places that I have been going or participating in activities for years. Wonderful, talented and unique people who I wish dearly that I had met earlier on. I am still discovering roads and paths, beaches and trails that I have never heard of or seen before. Have I willingly been blinded to opportunities that might have created attachment to Bellingham? Perhaps New York has not been calling me like I thought, so much as I've been whispering promises of adventure to myself if only I'd leave...

I've been reading this fantastic blog Thinking Out Loud and the post today was all about embarking on a new journey and the fear and excitement associated with that newness. Kim talks about how it was the best decision in the moment even though at the time, she was nervous it was a mistake. It was so comforting to me to read about someone elses experience at this time in my life. This move is really startingn to scare me. Not so much as to stop me, but enough for me to think very seriously about the important people in my life and to think about what I want to gather from this experience. I want to make the most of it, and I really hope I don't disappoint anyone--especially myself.

When it's right, it's right.

I find it incredible, the power of a decision and how if it is the right one, things tend to fall into place rather quickly. My decision to move to New York was one of the hardest I've had to consider in a very long time. The inner struggle of whether to stay close to my family or to follow a dream, a gut instinct tore me up to the point of anxiety attacks and migraines. In the end, I knew what I needed, and most importantly wanted, to do. New York has been calling to me since I was a very little girl. My whole family can attest to this as apparently, it was channeled through me with my inability to pronounce the letter 'R' properly, thus giving me a nice New York edge. With that being said, I am still finding it difficult to believe that I am going to be moving to New York City, with no real expiration date. I am not going for a school, or internship--but, for my life (not to be confused with life-time, which I don't expect). Knowing in the deepest part of my being that I am making the right decision for this part of my life has only been strengthened with every contact, every phone call and every potential job possibility that has come my way. And boy, let me tell you I am beginning to get overwhelmed (in the best possible way!) by all of the wonderful people I have spoken with and the generosity in sharing friends, contacts and colleagues. I truly believe New York is my right decision. With each day bringing new opportunities.

I have exciting news to share--not only was I highly recommended for the job that I have an interview for in September, but the chairman of one of the most prestigious international law firms specifically asked the director of pro bono (of that firm) to look out for me and help me identify a perfect place to work! I spoke with him this morning and after we discussed my interests and the kind of environment I want to be in the firm he suggested just so happened to be the one and the same firm that I have the interview with! We both got a chuckle out of that. He wrote the firm and just said "we love her, too!" and said what I just mentioned about the looking out for me stuff. Coincidence? I have no idea what else to call it besides amazing! I wrote a friend an e-mail this morning sharing that news, and I think I will just use a piece of that since I think it was put so succinctly--the oddity of coincidence that is.

who would have thought that a partner in Bellingham at the firm I work at, would be connected to the chairman of a[n internationally renowned law] firm that works closely with the law firm that [I have an interview with] came to me by way of my ex-boyfriends mom?!

If it is luck, then I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. If there is fate, then New York is obviously where I should be going right now. Anyway that I look at it, it is an occurence of the universe (whatever capacity you may believe, God or otherwise) and I am thankful and so very grateful.