Al-Awda New York

Please send letters to the Honorable Judge Sterling Johnson and to the Metropolitan Detention Center to demand justice for Sheikh Mohamad Al Moayad and Mohamad Zayed. Sample letters are provided below.

Hon. Judge Sterling Johnson
United States District Court
Eastern District of New York
225 Cadman Plaza East
Brooklyn, New York 11201

Hon. Judge Johnson;

It has been brought to my attention that you are the Judge presiding on the Judgement and Commital of Sheikh Mohamad Al Moayad and Mohamad Zayed.

I have followed the case of Sheikh Mohamad Al Moayad and Mohamad Zayed closely and believe a grave injustice has been done. I believe the government behaved unfairly and that there existed a dramatic inequity of resources and power which if non-existent would have allowed for a non-guilty verdict. While I am aware of the fact that I cannot force His Honor to issue a Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict, I do issue a plea to His Honor in the best interest of justice, and the integrity of the court, to at least consider issuing such a judgment in light of the government's failure to have proven jurisdiction, in light of the government's failure to demonstrate the trustworthiness of the transcripts, tape recordings, and in light of the government's failure to attribute pre-sting suspicion to the Palestinian Organizations Mr. Al Moayad is alleged to have supported.

Alternatively, I ask His Honor to consider the counts as arising from a single transaction, specifically the transaction between Mr. Moayad and Mr. Zayed and Mr. Sharif, the FBI Agent posing as a former Black Panther. I implore the Court to consider the history of Mr. Al Moayad as a spiritual leader, a civil servant, and as a community builder and developer, his repuatation as Father of the Orphans in Yemen. I hope the Court bears in mind that although Mr. Al Moayad held beliefs about Israel which sit in contradiction to the policies of this administration, he had never acted violently against any individual or state. In fact, he spent his years arbitrating between people, tribes and communities to avoid violence. Mr. Al Moayad and Mr. Zayed have been imprisoned two years and four months in states which do not speak their language, they have been unable to express themselves to the prison administration or to the Courts effectively and have suffered tremendously as a result. Both men have been in solitary confinement since their extradition and, because the Prosecution has threatened to imprison any and all relatives which attempt to enter the United States, they have not seen their families since their arrest. I pray that His Honor will consider these aggravating circumstances of the arrest in making His decision.

Indeed this is a sensitive case for citizens of this nation and citizens of the world, the steps His Honor takes now will be closely watched by all. Please help us all find faith in the United States justice System by doing what is clearly just. Thank you.

Respectfully,

Metropolitan Detention Center
Richard Desmond
Cc: Warden Zenk or Current Warden
Cc: Associate Warden Clemens or Current Associate Warden
80 29th Street
Brooklyn, New York 11201

I am ____________ and interested in human rights, specifically the state of prisoners in the United States. I became quite concerned after hearing about the case of Mohamad Al Moayad and Moahamd Zayed. I understand that they are being detained at the MDC in the Special Housing Unit in solitary confinement. I also understand that they have otherwise never been to the United States, do not speak English and have no family in the United States. It is clear that such confinement without human contact is violative of domestic and international laws and a vilation of basic human rights. I ask that you consider transferring both men to general population or in the alterntive allow them visitors. I am willing to consider visiting the men and will continue to follow this case until I believe both men are treated justly and humanely.

I am also aware that Mr. Zayed's psychological condition is fragile and the Mr. Al Moayad's health is also deteriorating and that he is not receiving an hour of exercise as otherwise alloted SHU prisoners. I hope that you can ensure that both men are given regular access to physicians and that when the physician visits a translator be provided so that each can express his needs and/or symptoms effectively and understand which medicines are being prescribed and in what manner they are to be consumed.

I have also learned that both men are restricted from access to literature and magazines that are void of any news and that although they have ordered books many months ago they have yet to receive any of them. Of further concern is that both men rarely receive visits from a Muslim cleric and although both have been requesting religious items as allowed them by your own prison's rules, they have yet to receive the items which include body oils, wrist watches, prayer rugs, and prayer beads. This is disturbing especially when one considers their model behavior under extreme holding conditions. All this appears to be a serious infringement upon the basic human dignity of both Mr. Zayed and Mr. Moayad, more concerning is that this appears to be a religiously and ethnically motivated infringement by your institution.

I urge you to look into these matters so that suspicion about your instituion's policies can be dispelled and so that we can all rest assured that prisoners are treated justly and not punished on the grounds of their race or religion. I understand you must be very busy and I appreciate your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours,

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