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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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18 June 2009

Alert: USA – Write to Imam Jamil and show your support

Contents
1. Summary
2. Background
3. Action required

Campaigners are asked to write to Prisoner of Faith Imam Jamil Al-Amin, who is held in 23-hour solitary confinement, to show their support.

Long-term solitary confinement has been proven to cause suicidal urges, severe mental health deterioration and at times physiological ailments. This makes it imperative that Imam Jamil receives messages of solidarity.

Hopefully, the letters he receives will be a source of comfort and an expression of concern people have for him internationally.

2. Background

In early 2009, Imam Jamil Al-Amin was placed in “the hole”; a disciplinary and solitary confinement facility, also referred to as Special Housing Unit (SHU), in which inmates face even further restrictions. Imam Jamil had already been suffering from continuous 23-hour solitary confinement, simply by virtue of being housed at USP Florence ADMAX, which has also been dubbed the “Guantanamo Bay of the mainland” and “a clean version of hell”. IHRC does not know the reason behind this presumed disciplinary action which placed him in a cell having no bed, no control over the lights, and no shower. Aside from being strip-searched, his Qur’an and all other personal belongings were seized.

Solitary confinement results in a severe deterioration of mental health and wellbeing of the prisoner. This method was first tested in 1820 at Cherry Hill prison, Philadelphia. The intention was to reform inmates with this program; however it caused suicidal tendencies and extreme mental instability, leading to the program being scrapped. Despite this damning conclusion, solitary confinement is still used widely in American prisons.

It is crucial that Imam Jamil receives as much support as possible considering the psychological effect of 23 hour solitary confinement. Writing letters of support, hope and encouragement is a productive way of helping Imam Jamil gets through this ordeal.

For further information, please visit the Imam Jamil IHRC campaign page:

(https://www.ihrc.org.uk/show.php?id=3063).

Please follow the links to see previous action alerts for Imam Jamil:

https://www.ihrc.org.uk/show.php?id=4006

https://www.ihrc.org.uk/activities/alerts/4319-Alert-USA-Letters-of-support-for-Imam-Jamil-

3. Action required

Please write to:

Jamil Al-Amin
99974-555
USP Florence ADMAX
U.S. Penitentiary
P.O. Box 8500
Florence, CO 81226
USA

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For more information, please contact the office on the numbers or email below

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For more information, please contact the office on the numbers or email below.

“And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! Cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper.”
Holy Qur’an: Chapter 4, Verse 75

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Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183
Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org