Posted on 08/04/2004 3:46:06 AM PDT by Former Military Chick
The U.S. Air Force is defending its position to prevent a senior airman from Dearborn from worshiping in a mosque as he awaits a September trial on attempted espionage charges.
Ahmad Al-Halabi, who worked as a translator at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is accused of attempted spying and mishandling classified information. He was arrested in July 2003. Since May 12, he has been detained at Travis Air Force Base near Sacramento, Calif. There is no mosque on base and officials have refused to allow him to pray in one in the community.
The 25-year-old Muslim maintains his innocence, but government officials have accused him of trying to send more than 180 e-mails from detainees to Syria, where Al-Halabi was born. They also said he failed to report contacts with the Syrian Embassy to his U.S. superiors and lied to Air Force investigators.
A formal religious discrimination complaint was filed in July.
Speaking on behalf of Travis Air Force Base, a spokesman at the Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois said letting Al-Halabi off the base could be risky, even with a military escort.
Officials said they want to make sure Al-Halabi shows up for trial and they say keeping him on the base guarantees national security and his own safety. No trial date has been set.
But the officials said they did make an effort to have two Islamic clerics visit the base to help Al-Halabi fulfill his religious obligation of praying because there are no Muslim chaplains or qualified lay leaders on the base.
They said Al-Halabi refused the visitations, saying he wanted to participate in Jumah prayers, which requires a congregation.
Al-Halabi's lawyers insist that he did not decline the military's offer to have a local religious leader visit him on base. They say Al-Halabi merely made it clear that his preference was to attend a mosque.
U.S. Air Force Maj. James Key, a lawyer who is representing Al-Halabi, said they are continuing to press the mosque issue and are open to a religious leader making visits. In the meantime, Al-Halabi's religious activities are "limited to what he does in his free time," such as self-study and personal prayer, Key said.
That doesn't help Al-Halabi fulfill his religious obligations which, according to the Koran -- the Muslim holy book -- are five daily prayers and Jumah prayers at noon Friday in a mosque.
"The Air Force recognizes the importance and significance of Jumah to members of the Islamic faith, and we regret that circumstances prevent us from fully accommodating . . . Al-Halabi's request," said officials at the Scott Air Force Base in a statement e-mailed to the Free Press in response to questions. "Al-Halabi's right to worship as a Muslim is not otherwise restricted."
Al-Halabi said that the Air Force violated the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act by not accommodating his religious needs. He is seeking $57,000 in damages and an additional $1,000 for each day he is not allowed to worship.
Muslim members of the military on the Travis Air Force base, who comprise less than 1 percent of active-duty Air Force personnel, often visit a local mosque for prayers, said the officials from the air base.
When Al-Halabi was on active duty in Guantanamo Bay he attended Muslim prayer services on base.
Detainees held at Camp Delta on Guantanamo Bay are allowed to pray in a group and hear the call to prayer in Arabic five times a day, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense.
Al-Halabi's lawyers aren't the only ones who are fighting for him.
A citizens committee, the Airman Halabi Justice Committee, has formed in California to help raise money for his defense fund and provide updates about his case.
"It's very clear in our heads that he is innocent of wrongdoing," said Shereen Sabet, spokeswoman for the committee. "We are upset that the Air Force is not flexible. We are upset they're not being reasonable, that they're not finding a solution.
"Because he is Muslim, we feel there is some prejudice against him."
The group has raised more than $45,000 toward his defense; its goal is $50,000.
The money is in a bank account set up by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, known as CAIR.
While not being heavily involved, CAIR is offering support to the group, said Sabiha Khan, a spokeswomen for CAIR's Los Angeles chapter.
However, the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee in Dearborn is using the Al-Halabi case as an example of ongoing civil-rights violations against Arab Muslims.
"I think religious freedom in America is one of our icons. No one has the right to prevent any individual to practice his religion, and the military is not an exception to that," said Imad Hamad, a spokesman for the committee.
Al-Halabi originally was charged with attempted spying and 29 other counts of breaking military law, including lying and bank fraud. On Tuesday, prosecutors withdrew the bank fraud charge due to lack of evidence, Al-Halabi's lawyers said.
Of the original charges against Al-Halabi, 16 remain. If convicted of the attempted espionage, he could face life in a military prison without parole.
Accommodations can be made perhaps, to go to the prison. I guess I would want our soldiers to be allowed to attend religious services.
Covering head, afraid of response.
The guy can pray by himself 6 days a week, if he has the religious character to do so (when was the last time a christian read his bible, f'rinstance),
He's up on charges serious enough to warrant observation in a controlled enviornment, and I agree with the AF that off base is not a secure area.
What kind of religion demands one's communal participation?
Ahmad is fortunate to be in this country.
Just another incremental attempt to erode America.
How many resources do you propose the government expend on getting this guy to a mosque? My God hears me pray from anywhere - don't have to be in a church to do it. This has nothing to do with religious freedom, it's just a way to get sympathetic attention for someone accused of treason.
Frankly, I am of the thought that the Air Force has gone above and beyond for this inmate. I only worry of how I want our guys treated if in custody. Granted middle eastern they wont give a rats ... it is just a worry.
There's religion and then there's Islam....and Jihad.....
As 'Dirty' Harry would say : "Well...I'm all broken up over that man's rights"
Nothing prevents this man from bowing towards Mecca five times a day and saying his prayers. He does not need to go to a Mosque to worship. However, I can see him wanting to go to a Mosque to pass secrets or perhaps attempt to escape.
Btw, if he is found guilty, I think we should behead him in accordance with Shahira law. We wouldn't want to discriminate against his deeply held beliefs.
Most Christians I know DO read their Bibles regularly.
My point, I do believe they have tried. Heck, go out to a field (excerise area) and give thought to your "maker" there.
A carpet sample and a directional arrow is all he needs, well, besides a total conversion to Christianity.
AFAIK, only the 5 daily prayers are required by the Koran (one of the 5 pillars). The Jumah is encouraged, but optional. His request is idiotic, considering he is in prison awaiting trial.
Tell me again why Kerry wants to bring bin Laden to America to be tried in a US civil court?
This sort of crackpot stuff would only be the beginning!
As I read all of your posts, I do wonder how they do this at gitmo. I mean there is a larger number of muslim folks but that also gives opportunity to pass secrets to each other. Well, I would video tape every moment of everyday to see who says what ..
Which if we thought he was not a good guy, why not set him up and get some groovy info out of him.
Exactly. We can't build a Mosque for every Muslim away from home.
This part will get shot down . There is existing case law regarding state and federal prisoners that allows certain infringements on religious freedoms. Infringement is allowed as long as the government can show proof that to accomodate a prisoners religious freedom would compromise the safety , security and order of prisons, and would cause undue risk to other prisoners and the public. Based on existing case law, this is a non- starter. I work in a prison and believe me there have been several attempts to use "religious freedom" as an attempt to get away with certain things. Like native Americans attempting to get hold of peyote in prison based on its use in certain Native american religious rituals. There are other examples, too numerous to mention here. Reasonable accomodations should be made on base, in the detention area, but that's it.
CC
Yes, I know ... my point is, and I confess ... it is sometimes neglected.
Right. And have the beheading at Gitmo in front of the terrorist down there. Bet that would get their attention.
I would consider myself a very devout Christian. But if I'm in jail on Federal Felony charges, I have NO REASON to expect them to let me out of jail to go to church services on Sunday.
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