Al-Arian Released on Home Detention
Charles Johnson
Tue Sep 2, 2008 at 8:44 pm PDT • Views: 208
Islamic Jihad kingpin Sami Al-Arian is out of prison: Al-Arian released after 5 years to await 2nd trial.
McLEAN, Va. - A former Florida professor once accused of being a leading Palestinian terrorist was released from custody Tuesday for the first time in more than five years.
Sami Al-Arian was being held by immigration officials as he awaited trial on charges of refusing to testify before a grand jury about a cluster of Muslim organizations in northern Virginia. A federal judge on several occasions has expressed skepticism about the government’s contempt charges, and last week ordered immigration authorities to explain by Tuesday afternoon why they were continuing to hold Al-Arian. He was released hours before the judge’s deadline.
Al-Arian will be on home detention at his daughter’s residence in Virginia while he awaits trial.
“We are obviously relieved and delighted,” said Al-Arian’s lawyer, Jonathan Turley, who wouldn’t not [sic] make Al-Arian available for comment. Turley did say the release would allow Al-Arian to see his son off to college and spend the Muslim holy month of Ramadan with his family.
Frank says: