HRC has advocated for the release of many prisoners in the USA as part of our Prisoners of Faith Campaign. These include prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, Imam Jamil, Mahmood Mousavi, Sheikh Omar Abdulrahman, Lynne Stewart and many others.

Guantanamo Bay is a US military base hosting a detention camp that was setup to hold individuals suspected of terrorism. Many detainees were captured during the war in Afghanistan but IHRC has criticised the validity of those claims. The detention camp hosts gross violations of international human rights as well as a lack of transparency.

There are many cases of prisoners in the US being put on trial unfairly, especially after the 9/11 attacks when islamophobia had exponentially risen. Imam Jamil Al-Amin’s trial took place March of 2002 where he was convicted of allegedly shooting two Fulton County deputies in Georgia, resulting in the death of one. However, in his case evidence was suppressed making it more difficult for him to prove his innocence.

Dr Sami Al-Arian was a tenured professor at the University of Florida until after 9/11 when the school’s administration in accordance with Governor Jeb Bush, attempted to fire him for his outspoken views, work for Palestine, and activism for civil liberties. In February 2003, he was arrested and charged in a terrorism conspiracy case. He spent two and a half years in prison, in solitary confinement and under the most atrocious conditions before he was finally given his day in court. His case is one among many who in a post-9/11 America were victims of the environment of hate by their institution.

Prisoners of Faith in the USA has seen not just individuals but also their lawyers being convicted. Lynne Stewarts’ attorney recently filed a petition asking the Judge to end her ten year prison sentence and release her into the care of her family under “compassionate release” given that she is sadly dying of stage four breast cancer. Lynne Stewart was the lawyer for Sheikh Omer Abdulrahman, another Prisoner of Faith. She was convicted of aiding terrorism by sending messages to Abdulrahman’s supporters. IHRC urges you to join her campaign Justice for Lynne Stewart calling for her immediate release.

IHRC encourages activists to write letters and advocate for the release of Prisoners of Faith in the USA. You can read more about the cases and resources here.