On January 5, 2005 I traveled to the Ramallah Headquarters of ADDAMEER [Arabic for CONSCIENCE]for an interview with its Coordinator, Ala Jaradat. Jarardat is a slightly built man who spoke in a soft voice of the brutal reality of life for Palestinians in the Holy Land.

“Since 1967, 650,000 to 700,000 Palestinians have been arrested and detained. That totals 20% of the total population and 80% of all adult Palestinian males have been arrested. Most of these arrests occur after midnight when large numbers of IDF [Israeli Defense Force] storm into neighborhoods or refugee camps, horrifying everyone and arresting anyone 14 years or older. Sometimes they storm into business offices and arrest the breadwinners of the families without any charges.

“These arrests and detentions are based on military orders; we live under a kind of Marshall Law which rules every aspect of Palestinian life: where we live, our license plates that restrict our movement and limited voting rights. Under these military orders the Israeli government is free to hold anyone eight days without accusations or charges. They can hold anyone up to 180 days for interrogation and up to 60 days without benefit of a lawyer.

“The Israeli government never agreed to the Second Geneva Convention, the Knesset never ratified it, and when it comes to the Occupied Territories they totally ignore it. Israel is the only State that approved torture of detainees. I know there are dictators who use torture, but Israel is the only State that supported torture until 1999. That is when International, Israeli and Palestinian pressure groups forced the issue and Barack was confronted about it when he visited the United States.

“The IDF will round up and arrest family members and use threats against their relatives to force confessions. The interrogations lead to Military Trials which is theoretically like court with three Judges presiding but only one is required to have an education and a law degree is not at all necessary. The Military Commander appoints the translators, issues all orders, assigns the judges, and has total control. One appeal is allowed, but if the judges are settlers the Palestinian is in deep shit!

“Administrative Detentions are issued by the Military Commander for a period of six months and the reason is always labeled ‘Security’ and the charges can be renewed indefinitely. One Palestinian spent eight years under Administrative detention and hundreds have endured four or more years. Today fifty are being held for the past four years. They may be released for a day or two and then they are rearrested because they are social or political activists but reasons are not given by the Israeli government.

“At any given moment 10% of those in prison are under Administrative Detention. There are currently 8,000 prisoners and 800 of them are under Administrative Detention. The government does not have to inform anyone about these arrests except the Red Cross and only if they are imprisoned over two weeks, but most arrests go unreported.

“Any Palestinian under the age of 16 is tried as an adult, but for an Israeli Jew it is 18 years of age. Under 12 years old the child can be arrested but not detained. Over 12 they can be arrested, detained, interrogated, prosecuted and sentenced for throwing stones.

“Most of the Israeli Jews that are imprisoned are in for violent crimes against society and they are mixed in with the Palestinian population. The guards encourage them to do what ever they want to do against the Palestinian population. This is an open invitation by the Israeli government to incite violence and terror in the prison system. We have sworn affidavits from Palestinians claiming it was the guards who encouraged the violence inflicted upon them.

“In August 2004 the Palestinians went on a hunger strike to raise awareness of this problem and the Minister of Health who is responsible for them stated publicly: ‘Our hospitals are off limits to them they can all starve themselves to death.’

“No human rights organizations are allowed access to the prisoners. Only lawyers and the Red Cross can visit them but have no access to the facilities where they are detained.

“The methods and photos from Abu Grahib and Guantanamo were no shock to any Palestinian who had been in prison between 1967 and the ’80’s. All the methods used in Abu Grahib were normal procedures against Palestinians. In 1999 Internationals, Palestinians and Israelis for human rights threatened a boycott against Israel and that is what forced the Supreme Court to address the torture issue. They did not ban torture and the General Prosecutor can choose not to prosecute those who still use it.”-Ala Jaradat





By: Eileen Fleming

 

There are federal prison guidebooks and then there are federal prison guidebooks. Which ones really help? Which guidebooks tell you what you really need to know about federal prison? What federal prison guidebook will help you transition from the world you now know to the world you are about to know—the world of the incarcerated inmate? Believe me; those two worlds are drastically different!

Many books are written about federal prison that provide generic information about prison and supposedly tell you how to prepare for it. Many of these books are written by current inmates or former federal prison inmates.  Everything from prison food recipes to horrible stories about maximum security lockdown is covered. There certainly are prison food recipes available and maximum security lockdown isn’t pleasant, but shouldn’t they offer much, much more? Some books even tell you how to exercise. If you don’t know that by now, I guess you never will.

Even more ridiculous are the books written by former prison guards. Most prison guards are not capable of writing a guidebook on federal incarceration. Ask any federal inmate, he or she will verify that. These books contain forms, stories, and lists of meaningless items.  Is that what you want in a federal prison guidebook? Most definitely not!

A good federal prison guidebook is one that is written by someone who has experienced federal prison firsthand. He should know the Bureau of Prisons’ programs, procedures, policies, and has experienced life in a federal prison. The guidebook should contain facts about federal prison, how to really prepare for the transition to prison life. It should contain chapters about the defendant’s initial investigation which led to his or her journey to prison. What the defendant should expect from the prosecutor, investigators, and the media. The process of inmate travel on Con Air, arriving at prison in handcuffs, leg shackles, and belly chain, the inmate’s boring prison schedule, the do’s and don’ts of prison existence should all be covered. It should not only cover the inmate’s time in prison but also his or her release to halfway house, supervised release, and home confinement. There are so many stipulations and conditions that must be met. Prison aftercare should also be addressed. How does the former inmate find a job? How does he regain the civil rights he lost?  How can he expunge his conviction?

An even better federal prison guidebook will be written by a federal prison consultant who has been a former white-collar inmate. He not only can write about what really goes on in prison and what the new inmate can expect, but he can also write about the recent changes in policy, new laws, and new requirements which affect entering white-collar defendants. After all, that’s his job. The federal prison guidebook should contain a large question and answer section, an inmate terms or jargon section, a glossary of definitions, and an appendix of needed forms and addresses. One such book does exist—Jail Time, What you need to know…Before you go to federal prison.

A federal prison guidebook that meets all these qualifications and criteria is available. Its author is a leading national federal prison consultant. The book is Jail Time, What you need to know…Before you go to federal prison! The federal prison consultant is Michael Frantz. Now, both white-collar defendants and blue-collar defendants can have the best of both worlds. There are generic books on the market. But wouldn’t you rather have the one that sets the standard. The one federal prison guidebook most widely used and recognized that is available in both a paperback and an e-book edition. Too much is at stake. This is your one chance to make the right decision. Make the correct one.

 





By: Michael Frantz

With interest rates rising rapidly, it is more important than ever to make the most of every loan. As refinances begin to dry up and you begin to deal more with purchases, you will undoubtedly encounter new roadblocks and hurdles on the way to the closing table. It’s a fact–purchase loans are far more time consuming and stressful than their refinance counterparts.

Borrowers are emotional, erratic, demanding, panicky, unsure, deliriously happy or sad and a whole host of many other emotions. In their minds, they’ve picked out the carpeting and wallpaper and have mentally already moved in! Geesh! Try dealing with a person who thinks they’re the landlord and they don’t even have the keys yet!!!

Keeping this in mind, here are some tips when dealing with purchase loans. These come from my years of experience and many number of loans (I’ve lost count.)…

1. Don’t show your hand too early (meaning the interest rate you can offer). Explain to the borrower that it is up to them when they decide to actually “lock-in” the interest rate. If they press you for an actual rate, tell them what today’s rate is you can offer, and that you will watch the interest rates for them. If they drop, you will call them at the first moment. What you really want to do here is knock the borrower off their “rate” short-sightedness. Say something like, “Well, as you know, the interest rates change every day. With purchase loans, time is critical. What we can do is get the process started, so that you don’t lose the house, and when the interest rates get to a point you feel comfortable with, we can lock it in for you. We will be working hand-in-hand through the entire process. Now, how do you spell your last name?”.

2. Explain the difference between a pre-qualification and a commitment letter. Borrowers think just because they have been pre-qualified somewhere, that it guarantees them the loan. This isn’t the case. As you know, the underwriter has the final say. If the property does not appraise for the correct value, the borrowers’ situation changes, or the seller pulls out, the deal is dead. These are things entirely out of your control. What I tell borrowers, is that we are going to go one step further than a simple pre-qual letter. We want to give them an advantage with their loan, and get them a full commitment letter from a lender as soon as possible. This lessons the chance of them getting their expectations set too high and not getting the loan in the end.

3. Phone the real estate agents early on and explain you are in control of the process. Call them BEFORE they call you. You want to show that YOU are in control—NOT them. Doing this, puts you at a higher level and they will respect you for it. Believe me.

4. Set expectations with the borrower upfront. Explain the entire loan process from start to end. First-time homebuyers just simply don’t know. Emphasize to them, if they have any questions, to call you first—NOT the realtor.

5. Make it known that you are the point of contact for all parties involved in the transaction. This includes the seller and buyer agent, appraiser, lawyer, title companies, etc. Usually, the realtor thinks they are in control for the whole process, but remember the sale is mostly out of their hands after the purchase and sales contract is signed. Then it is entirely up to you—the loan officer—to succeed! By being the “driver” in the process, you can minimize any confusion or crossed signals that may arise.

6. If you get a sales call from a borrower looking to purchase a home, ask if they have already been pre-qualified elsewhere. Most of the time they have been and are simply shopping around for the lowest rate. (In other words, go back to rule number one above… don’t show your hand too early). If the borrower shops behind the other loan officer, they will certainly do it to you too.

7. Explain to the borrower whether you are acting as a direct lender or broker. Each has pluses and minuses. Explain what you are and the role you play. Sell yourself. For example, you can say “As a lender, we have direct control of the process, we make the final decision and can tell you upfront whether you qualify.” or “As a broker, if you get denied by a lender, we can easily shop you to another lender, saving you time and effort. This will help you ensure you get the house you want and not jeopardize the process”. Sell your advantages…don’t mention your weaknesses.

8. Factor in all payments for the borrower, including the full principal, interest, taxes and insurance and be certain that the borrower is well aware of these entire costs upfront. If they can’t afford the house, you want to know as soon as possible. Or you’ll be left with nothing!!! I always say, it’s best early on to kill ‘em or keep ‘em. Don’t let timewasters run away with your income.

9. Watch critical dates, especially rate lock expirations and underwriting turn-times. Be well aware of the “commitment letter” date as stated in the purchase and sales contract on the property. Oftentimes, borrowers wait until far too late in the process before deciding to move ahead and these contract deadlines can be impossible to meet. Get an extension on this ASAP with the seller’s agent on the property.

10. Finesse your way through the process. Don’t lie. Only tell each individual party involved in the process what they need to know. Don’t share too much information…it creates confusion. And don’t tell someone something unless you are absolutely certain. It always comes back to bite you in the rear!

11. Stop the shopping. Make the borrower understand that once they decide to move ahead with the process, they risk losing the home, if they decide to leave you. Another broker/lender will be unable to meet the tight deadlines in the contract. They have to make a decision and stick to it.

12. Stop the shopping—part two. If the borrower is qualifying for a home based on a special program that your company is offering, tell them the criteria upfront. Not every loan officer has what you can offer. In other words, you have a specialized program and are making an “exception” just for them. Not all rates are created equal. The other “competitors” for the loan may not have all the correct information upfront, to be able to properly quote them an accurate interest rate. Let me emphasize that again—an ACCURATE INTEREST RATE. Educate the borrower on this, show them you’ve done your homework, and are quoting accurately. Ask qualifying questions that others don’t.

By keeping these tips in mind, it should make your next purchase loan go a lot smoother.

If you are looking for a firm step-by-step process to help you get your purchase loans to the table faster, please…please…please…take a minute to read about my Sink or Swim Loan Closing System at http://www.loanclosingsystem.com

And, as always, best of luck in your business. This is STILL a wonderful industry to be in! Stop being discouraged and go get ‘em!!! I know it’s tougher out there, but you can do it!





By: Robert Lawrence

Oftentimes people have the need to give back. This may be done by helping those that are in need. This is one of the things that drive people to become probation officers. A probation officer helps offenders re-adjust to society.

After they receive the training and skills needed to become probation officers, they are rewarded with a career where they have the ability to change lives. They accomplish this by ensuring offenders stay on course with the conditions of their probation.

People on probation have set goals and rules on which the success of their rehabilitation depends. A probation officer is charged with seeing that persons assigned to probation adhere to these following goal and rules:

1. They must be employed, actively seeking employment, or register for school.

2. They must notify their probation officer of any changes in employment, phone number, or address.

3. They must not receive any new charges.

4. They may not leave the jurisdiction of the probation without first notifying their probation officer.

5. They must be present for all scheduled appointments or give 24 hours notice if unable to attend.

6. They must pay any restitution, court costs, fines, or other costs incurred by their judgment.

Statistics show that 86% of all those on probation violate or are otherwise repeat offenders.

Job requirements-

Probation officers should be in good physical and emotional condition. Most agencies require applicants to be at least 21 years old. Those convicted of felonies are not usually eligible for hire in this occupation. Prior employment in such areas as court services, corrections, drug abuse treatment, or counseling may aid towards any requirement for previous work experience.

Education-

Qualifications vary by agency, but a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice is one of the most common requirements. Most applicants are required to complete oral, written, psychological, and physical certification examinations for probation officer licensing.

Training-

Many probation officers work as trainees, on a probationary period of up to a year, before obtaining a permanent position.

Skills-

A probation officer must have the following skills to be successful:

1. Excellent listening abilities since you need to absolve what is being said.

2. The skill to work effectively with others because you need to deal with offenders and their families.

3. The ability to communicate effectively. This is because you will be required to testify in the court of law. The last thing you need is to fumble around when the time comes.

4. The skill needed to write reports. The job requires you to write progress reports on the offenders you are working with. This report will go to courts and will be read by judges and lawyers.

5. You will need to know basic self defense skills. The criminal offenders you supervise can get violent sometimes. You need to be able to protect yourself before law enforcement officers get there.

There you have it—-the skills and training you need to become a probation officer. If you are interested, I encourage to do more reading on the internet. You can do this if you visit websites that cover the probation officer profession in more detail.

Note: You are free to reprint or republish this article. The only condition is that the Resource Box should be included and the links are live links.





By: Kenneth Echie

When we were growing up, we were taught to seat properly. For starters, sitting properly is not only courteous, but it also allows us to reach for the food at the dinner table better and talk with our families more effectively in the dinner table. In professional interviews, we are told to assume a correct sitting posture to emanate a sense of confidence. Now that we are hired and sitting in our trusty office chairs, perhaps it is time to give the idea of sitting another thought.

Imagine a world where you take notice how long you sit. With a good chunk of our hours sitting in office chairs for our usual workload, or plunging in our comfortable drafting chairs to complete our designs, we are left in one place for hours. Outside the office space, we still do a lot of sitting when we are driving, eating dinner, watching television, and studying. Sitting in office chairs is our “no-choice” comfortable position.

However, being lodged in one stationary chair for hours could not be healthy. An unhealthy sitting position can wear down our joints that we need for other activities. Sitting for long hours gives constant tension to our butt and thighs as our weight is transferred to these areas. Stress on our lower back increases pain and pressure on our spine disc, where it can cause critical complications if the disc breaks down.

Being stationary for long periods of time in an ergonomic office chair does not bode well for healthy blood circulation. Certain muscles in our body can stiff up and prevent blood from going the right way. Usually our blood is pooled on our legs and our buttocks which can restrict some from going to the heart. Thus, a seemingly normal and stationary activity done in extensive periods of time can cause serious health problems. These physical discomforts can include back pain, neck pain, abdominal pain, leg pain, eye strain, and repetitive movement disorders. Reducing the risks for these complications to happen is indeed a serious business.

To correct these problems, replacement office chairs as well as proper sitting practices are important. Ergonomic office chairs are designed to be functional and comfortable for the office worker while reducing the strain from improper sitting position. Most of the time, we assume a sitting position that is most comfortable to us and we constantly change our sitting position without realizing it. Thus, perfectly constructed ergonomics office chairs are important in keeping you posture in the right shape. These office chairs guide you until you assume another appropriate sitting posture.

Ergonomically designed office chairs also have features that will help the office worker screen out the physical stress from sitting down and doing their job. With nothing much to worry, the worker can be more productive and prevent less distraction in finishing his work. For architects, engineers, and designers who need a drafting chair or a design stool, there are also tall chairs that can help you finish their work. Drafting chairs are more known for their ability to balance weights while giving the worker a full set of hands to work with.

The idea of sitting is therefore not a passing thought. Just imagine how long we sit down then you can grasp the importance of developing proper sitting posture, and having the perfect set of office chairs.





By: Jimmy Park

When it comes to celebrating in your office space, school or even in your retail space if you are a business owner, where do you draw the line on celebrating or offending during religious holidays?

Over the years America has seen a radical switch in how holidays are celebrated in every public place. The term, politically correct in some people’s eyes has gone way too far but for others, the politically correct movement has helped Americans realize there are other people out there who have different beliefs and every right to celebrate how they choose. The double edge sword of being too politically correct or overly sensitive to everyone’s needs means that instead of accepting every culture and religion, public society has decided to not celebrate any of them openly. This can make things far more confusing than how it may have been long before the term politically correct made it so.

Here are Some Ways Your Office or Retail Space Can Still Celebrate The Time of Year Without Offending Anyone

•    Think spring! No one can be offended by the seasons

•    Pastels and polka dots are very spring and non-offensive

•    Decorate with weather, no one can deny that April showers happen, and no one can be offended with umbrella and raindrop decorations

•    Baby farm animals are born in the spring. Choosing to decorate your retail space with baby chicks and bunnies is perfectly acceptable

•    Go green! Decorate with the colors of spring. This means light greens, cherry blossoms, pink and yellows and lilac. Bring in flower pots of silk tulips or blossoms or even small pots of grass to place as displays in your retail space window or in the waiting room of your office space

•    Outdoor exercise- once the weather gets nicer, that means people are going to the park, riding bikes and even going to the beach. Think of outdoor activities as a means to decorate your office, like setting up an old fashioned bike with a basket filled with spring tulips in the window or colorful kites strung up in your office space.

You can play it safe by celebrating the weather, nature, pastel colors and outdoor activities or you could divide up the week and celebrate every day by recognizing a different religious celebration or during the holy week, create a mosaic of religious icons, spring flowers and Easter bunnies all together, displaying that your office or retail space celebrates everyone and everything about this time of year.





By: Melissa Peterman

ntilation in any office is of great importance. It is one of the promoters of productivity and good work place health.

Consider the design of your office furniture and all the computer accessories you choose to purchase because this will contribute to proper ventilation in your office.

Setting your office for example at the basement of a building will not provide proper ventilation, the basic reason is that their will be improper circulation of air. Therefore, set your office in an area with good natural air flow from either windows or door.

Create enough space in order to maintain proper flow of air in your office. You need to craft a space to provide free movement in the office. Make sure that you have two to three windows to allow in enough air into the office. They should be open at all times as well. You should watch the placement of your computers as well, they may appear to take a lot of space but proper arrangement will save a lot of space. This is known as space ventilation.

Having an air conditioner or two is necessary, however if it’s possible to place your office in a naturally breeze area or basically well-circulated area; do it! Try to design your office with good air circulation in mind.

Proper placement of equipments is equally important. Your office desk chairs should not take a lot of space because you might probably need to install other equipments in the office. The logic is, keep your office as spacious as you can.

Proper storage of food is important. This ensures that the indoor air is fresh. Storage of food should be in a cool dry place, avoid contaminants in the office, this will reduce proper ventilation in your office.

Proper fan installation assists in increasing the rate of ventilation in your office. It improves its performance; it brings out its optimum performance. This is important especially when there is a lot of heat in the office or when you need a more beautiful breeze.

Proper lighting is important as well. Never place your chair or desk directly to the source of light; it might cause you to squint when you are working which might lead to headaches. Mark this that lighting is part of proper ventilation in your office. Therefore work on proper light installation.

Foundation vents are better placed but should be adjusted during summer and winter; depending on the climate.

Computers produce a lot of heat, the only way out is to understand the maximum temperature in your office. If you are using the outdoor air to blow away the heat, then you might be adding another problem humidity problem. You can overcome this by using a fan and the normal ventilation tips.

Whether in a high temperature office or low, you might in the long run need ventilation in your office. The best way out is to ensure that your office is always correctly ventilated. This will cut on costs incurred on the outcomes of unventilated room.

By: Gen Wright

The island was discovered by a man by the name of Juan de Ayala and was named after a seabird. Alcatraz has served as both a military stockade as well as a maximum-security prison in the past. Currently, Alcatraz is a historic site that is overseen by the National Park Service. The island is open to public tours for those that would like to visit the island for educational or personal interest reasons. People come from all over the world to visit the famous prison and are usually shocked that the island is beautiful and contains more than just a big, ominous prison!

Those that would like to visit can do so by taking a short ferry ride from Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. Some of the things that visitors find most interesting when they visit Alcatraz is the abandoned prison, one of the oldest operating lighthouses in the United States, military walls and defensive structures, rock pools, a seabird colony, as well as breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay.

Alcatraz was first used as a military installation as early as 1850, and became a maximum-security prison by 1933 when the United States Disciplinary Barracks on the island were obtained by the United States Department of Justice. The prison became a federal prison in the summer of 1934. The prison was in use for 29 years and was known to house some of the most infamous criminals such as Al Capone, Alvin Karpis, and Robert Franklin Stroud. Alvin Karpis is known as the inmate that served the longest sentence at Alcatraz prison.

The prison was not the only thing located on the island during the 29 years that the prison was in operation. On the island was also housing for the Bureau of Prison staff as well as their families. Many people grew up calling Alcatraz island home, and those that called it home have formed the Alcatraz Alumni Association. This Association actually holds an annual celebration in which the staff and family gets together to commemorate the opening of the prison and to share stories of growing up on what has become known as the “rock”.

After 29 years of operation the doors to the prison closed to prisoners. The reason for the closure is not because the prison hadn’t been successful, but because it was far more expensive than more traditional prisons. There were also some environmental concerns about the prison as the San Francisco Bay was being polluted from the sewage of more than 300 people that were living on the island. Authorities agreed that it would be cheaper in the long run to build a more traditional land bound prison instead of continuing to pay for the Alcatraz prison, so the doors were ordered shut and the prisoners were sent to other prisons in the area.

The island was inhabited again in the late 1960s by a group of American Indians known as the Indians of All Tribes. Unfortunately, during this group’s occupation of the land many of the original buildings were destroyed such as the recreational hall, the warden’s home, some apartments, as well as the Coast guard quarters. After just a year and a half the government forced the group to leave, though many American Indian groups still hold ceremonies on the island today such as on Columbus Day. The island offers a beautiful setting for such gatherings and since there is a Native American history on the island, it seems to be the perfect setting.

Alcatraz Island has become known as “The Rock” and was actually shown in a movie by the same name. That is not the only movie that has been filmed there though; several movies have been filmed there as early as 1937.

Alcatraz was considered prime land for a prison because escaping was not simple during the days of its operation. Being surrounded by water, few prisoners were even willing to consider an escape attempt. The prison never reported any successful escapes, as most of those that attempted were shot dead or would drown in the ice-cold San Francisco Bay water. In all, it’s known that 36 prisoners were involved in escape attempts of those, seven were shot and killed, two drowned, five are unaccounted for, and the remaining number were recaptured. The most famous escape attempt is the escape of Frank Morris and John and Clarence Anglin. These men disappeared from their cells in 1962 and made their way away from the island with raincoats and plywood paddles. The men were never seen again, so it is not known if the men survived their escape or not. There have never been any reported sightings of the men, and the FBI found some of their equipment, but the men were never found. Though it was thought that escape from Alcatraz was impossible, the escape of these men has prompted plenty of trials and experiments that have proved with the right resources, proper planning, cooperating weather, and a desire to escape that it is possible.

When visiting Alcatraz there are plenty of souvenirs that you can take away with you to remember your visit. Though the island was once the home to prisoners, now it welcomes visitors from all walks of life to talk a walk through history and see where some of the most infamous criminals were housed during their prison sentences. Many report that even all this time later that the prison has a very ominous and dark feeling to it. The prison remains in remarkably good condition, providing visitors with the opportunity to step into a cell to experience the confines that the prisoners did during their stay.

For some reason, The Rock continues to be one of the most fascinating parts of modern United States history. Alcatraz Island has an almost mystical quality about it. Thousands of people continue to visit the abandoned prison each year, which is why the prison continues to be kept up.





By: Arthur Vandelay

How to Disappear… Alcatraz Style

Those of you who recognize my name know that I am a skip tracer, one who finds people; however, more interesting, I teach people how to disappear. About a year ago, I met up with some famed Hollywood Producers about creating a show about me finding people who have disappeared – titled Missing.

The producers were interested in doing cases where it was possible the missing people maybe alive. Like Whitey Bulger leader of the Winter Hill Gang, DB Cooper skyjacker and bank robber, Lord Lucan British high society and suspected murderer, Moana Pozzi Italian porn star. Out all the cases that were kicked around they were interested in brothers Clarence & JW Anglin the famed escape from Alcatraz, made popular by Clint Eastwood in his portrayal of Frank Lee Morris one of the escapees.

My attitude was negative I figured there is no way the Anglins or Morris made it out the dark waters with their makeshift rafts, boy was I wrong. Therefore, the journey of locating the Anglin brothers begins, I started my search by locating family.

The Anglin name is somewhat of a common southern name, most searches on line brought me to IMDB.com the movie site that linked the movie Escape from Alcatraz. I located an old book written titled Riddle of the Rock by Don Denevi, an interesting book that discusses the escape in detail – unlike the movie that simplified the break out.

The theory is that Bumpy Johnson a notorious Harlem mob boss assisted in the escape by having a boat out in the bay waiting for the escapees. However when I did my research on Bumpy Johnson he had no power left and no money to finance such a feat. In addition, the environment on the rock was hostile, amongst the different ethnic groups, though some believe that the escape plan united the groups and kept it a secret from the guards.

The vital hope amongst the prisoners was that if the escapees made it out alive, they perhaps would shine light on the horrible conditions in Alcatraz. The big house was filled with small cells, no exercise and high carbohydrate diets to keep the inmates lazy although the Warden allowed painting on canvas.

After days of spinning my skip tracing wheels, I was unsuccessful in locating any of the Anglin family members. Sometimes when one skip traces the simple things are forgotten. I finally hit www.ancestry.com and start posting that I am a writer searching for Anglin family members. A few days later, I get an email from a woman who knows the oldest brother and patriarch of the family. I will refer to him as Man a family nickname.

I dial Man’s cell phone number and an easy southern voice answers. I tell him my story that I am working with some producers who want to do a TV show about his brothers. Of course, I leave out the part that we are looking to capture them. Man agrees to meet me at a nearby Arby’s restaurant the following day.

The next day I arrive at the Arby’s restaurant about forty minutes early, checking out the scene. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Man or other family members. When you’re a skip tracer being paranoid at times is your best tool. The paranoia can keep you one-step ahead. After assessing that, all was cool I walk in a sit down, shortly after walks in the kindest looking person I ever met, Man brother to JW and Clarence.

As Man was sitting down, he asked if I was going to make him rich and famous, I laughed. Although Man was not joking, he told me how the media pretty much used him and spit him out. He told me everyone else made money off his brother’s infamy but the Anglin family never received a dime from books, TV shows and movies made. My answer was simple, how bout we start with a cup of coffee I am buying. Man smiled, he preferred bottle water.

I wanted to know about the brothers, how they found themselves in a place like Alcatraz. Clarence and JW robbed a bank in Alabama, what most people do not realize is a third brother was with them and the supposed ringleader Alfred Anglin. Man told me that Alfred was always in trouble and prior to the bank robbery in Alabama Alfred was on the lamb for several years living in the middle of Florida working a farm picking fruit and vegetables.

While hiding out in Florida Alfred fell in love with a sixteen-year-old beauty named Jeanette. Like Romeo and Juliet it was a forbidden love, the couple crossed the state line and married.

Not far from the Arby’s restaurant is a small graveyard with Alfred’s headstone and an old photo of Alfred and Jeanette announcing their marriage for all to see, quite brazen for a man on the run. That was just the way Alfred was, he feared nothing and wanted to give his new bride more in life so he devised a plan.

While Alfred was picking fruit under the hot Florida sun, Clarence was working a road gang somewhere around Ft. Meyers. Turns out Clarence’s mother Rachel and another of her sons’ went to visit Clarence in the jail. Clarence told them not to come next week that he would be visiting them at home. The mother and brother shrugged it off to Clarence’s usual banter.

The following week, Clarence true to his word escaped the road gang with two other prisoners. Clarence was barefoot and made his way up the Gulf Coast, wading and swimming for more than sixty miles.

Man told me that Clarence and JW were thick as thieves and since childhood, they had a unique way of communicating between each other, secret destination to meet up at, phone calls with certain amount of hang-ups determined locations. JW received such a message and met up with Clarence when he escaped the Florida road gang and took him to stay with Alfred on the farm. Farm life was no life for Clarence, he had a tough edge to him and preferred easy money for the day as opposed to a weekly paycheck also picking fruit never paid that much.

The plan, Man told me that originally, Clarence and Alfred were going to rob the bank in Alabama, and originally JW wanted no part of the crime. JW was a ladies man, sharp dressed and loved fast cars. A fast car was needed for the bank robbery, JW refused to lend his car and eventually decided that he would go along and drive the getaway car. What the brothers did not know was Alabama supposedly still had the death penalty for bank robbery.

My meetings with Man became weekly, more like a Tuesday with Morrie but in an Arby’s sipping bad coffee and him the usual water. Man was always cautious about how he answered my questions; in his late seventies, he was sharp. One time he was bold and told me he had to watch what he said, he didn’t want to get in any type of trouble. Not sure, what he meant I pushed on, but his big southern smile always brought the conversation to another topic.

In another meeting with Man, he implied that I might be a US Marshal trying to capture his brothers and wanted to know if I was wired. I told him I was not, he asked me to take off my shirt and prove it to him. That afternoon in the Arby’s I stood and took off my shirt as the patrons looked at me as if I was crazy. Man, pulled out a business card of a US Marshal, forty years after the escape the US Marshals actually approached Man and asked him to take a polygraph test. They picked him up from his small lot where several trailers housed Man and a few siblings. The Marshal drove him to an office asked him thirteen questions, drove him back home and never discussed the results of the test.

The bank robbery, JW drives his brother up to the bank door. Clarence and Alfred enter the bank a toy gun is used a woman near faints. The two brothers stop the robbery and give her a glass of water – about 19k is stolen. Eventually the brothers are apprehended in Ohio. Less than 600 were spent from the loot. All three brothers were found guilty. Alfred was sent back to Atlanta since he owed the state time for his prior escape. JW and Clarence went to Leavenworth and eventually Alcatraz because of a foiled escape.

Fast forward Alcatraz June 11, 1962 Allen West the mastermind behind the Alcatraz escape is unable to exit his cell, JW, Clarence and Frank Lee Morris escape into the dark waters supposedly never to be seen again.

After the escape, Man told me that he was visiting Alfred in the penitentiary and in the prison bathroom Alfred said he received a message from Clarence and that he knew where the brothers were holed up and he was going to break out and meet up with the pair. Alfred true to his words attempted to escape prison only to be killed by electrocution.

Long after the Alcatraz, escape there have been several sightings and assumed correspondence from JW and Clarence. The smoking gun by Hollywood standards would be a postcard that arrived one day from Brazil, written in Clarence’s writing. Every year on the mother’s birthday, she received two dozen red roses with unsigned cards. The roses stop upon her death.

At times Man would open up and bring me closer to a world he shared with no one, not even his own siblings. They joke about if anyone knew the whereabouts, Man would know. I asked to see the postcard from Brazil, however, a week later Man told me the card is gone no one can find it. I offered him twenty thousand dollars just to look at the mysterious correspondence. Man smiled and again in that polite southern voice – it was misplaced.

Some years ago, Unsolved Mysteries did a segment about the Anglin brothers; I had the good fortune of meeting the Director of that segment who was now one of the producers I was working with. We flew together to meet up with the US Marshal that worked the tips from Unsolved Mysteries.

1. A woman called in claiming to have met Clarence Anglin after the escape at a barbecue. She claimed he was with a teen girl named Rachel, strangely enough that was the name of the Anglins mothers. The woman claimed that she also visited the home of Clarence in Georgia and mentioned particular features about Clarence that only would have been recognized in person.

2. In the same area of Georgia, a bank was robbed and the MO was similar to the Anglin bank robbery in Alabama. What is so interesting is the Georgia bank robbery is in the same town where the Anglins hail from. Mike the producer told me when he was shooting the Unsolved Mysteries segment he had the wanted posters of Clarence and JW faxed to a hotel managers office, the manager remarked that the faces looked like the guy who robbed the bank a few years back in Georgia.

3. The US Marshal met with another woman who claimed she was on her father’s ranch in Texas when several men showed up who were assisting a man being smuggled into Mexico. Her father claimed it was one of the Anglin brothers.

4. We learned that only a few years back the US Marshals received a tip that one of the Anglin brothers was in Brazil. The US Marshals went down to Brazil and got a confirmation from a local bartender that one of the brothers was there. Eventually the trail went cold.

Mike and I eventually made our way to meet Man but first stopped in a local diner. We started talking with a few locals, one specifically who knew the family well. He told us what most people do not know is that one of the Anglin siblings was out in California during the escape and not far from the rock – information not in the FBI file.

The FBI file is an interesting piece of work, the attitude is summed up that most likely the trio drowned in the bay. Across the bay was a community of people known as the colony, these were family members of inmates locked up in Alcatraz. There is no record of the FBI ever speaking to members of the colony.

We picked Man up and he gave us a grand tour of where the Anglins grew up, from back woods swimming holes, to back roads where JW raced his Thunderbird. Man told stories of JW being a ladies man, dressing like a fancy preacher, Clarence being tough as nail and Alfred, well Alfred was just destined for trouble. Mike and I were hoping to get that smoking gun it never came.

Either way Hollywood passed on my show titled Missing, to them there was no smoking gun. The secret of Clarence and JW still hide behind the kind smile of a gentle man named Man. Through my search, I learned of things that are best left unsaid, things that imply or point to the strong possibilities of life after Alcatraz for JW and Clarence.

To me it was a great experience to dive so deep in the world of such a mystery – that will never be solved or at least not yet! That was the last time I saw Man and that’s how you disappear Alcatraz style.

Frank M. Ahearn

www.disappear.info





By: Frank M. Ahearn

we first began corresponding with Khalid Awan in 2007, we had no idea why he was serving time in U.S. federal prison. We soon discovered Awan was one of the first of thousands of Muslims taken prisoner in the post-9/11 U.S. “terror war.” As the story began unfolding in our letters, we began to realize that this honest, humble and sincere man was not only innocent, but the ongoing injustice being done to him provides critical insight into the mindless, meanspirited, bureaucratic-yes-men idiocy fueling the illegal U.S. “war on terror” (and just about everything else that is going wrong in this country). At our insistence, Awan wrote his story and supplied us with whatever documents we requested. And now, after three months of cooperative efforts, the story of Khalid Awan can be told. We have come to know Awan as a peaceful man engaged in peaceful work who has been wrongfully accused, detained and repeatedly convicted of crimes he did not commit because he was a Muslim with international connections and an office in New York on 9/11. We present this to you in faith that you will realize a deeper understanding of the levels of complicity necessary for the “land of the free” to tolerate the phony war on terror year after year and in hope that Awan—and all the other million or more political prisoners being held by this country—will one day be reunited with their families.By Khalid Awan

My name is Khalid Qayyam Awan. My rights have been eroded in the name of “national security.” Since I am a Muslim, my story has been written, produced, directed, choreographed and staged by U.S. government officials.The Department of Justice and the FBI have been under pressure by the Bush administration to find “terrorists” in this country and to preemptively convict them before they can strike at the U.S. Although there is good evidence that there are few, if any, potential terrorists in the Muslim communities of the United States, U.S. attorneys who are not able to find any real “terrorists,” target, prosecute and convict innocent Muslims on phony or inflated criminal charges to show they are politically “loyal to the president,” and to avoid being fired for political reasons, as recent news revelations strongly suggest. These prosecutions have destroyed families in a country that is renowned for its human rights activities around the world.

BackgroundI am a 46-year old Canadian citizen and native of Pakistan. Throughout my life I studied in Catholic Christian schools and read the Bible every morning. I received my Masters Degree in Political Science at the University of Karachi in Pakistan and I am one of the founding members of the Pakistan Human Rights Commission. As a result of my belief in humanity and equality, I moved to Canada in 1993, becoming a Canadian citizen in 1996. In Canada I worked as an immigration consultant and was a member of the Canadian Bar Association. As part of my business, I also had an office in New York, which is where I was on Sept 11, 2001.

October 2001On October 25, 2001, U.S. government agents entered my house in Garden City, NY, without knocking and yelled at me to drop everything or they would shoot me. They forced me to lie on the ground while they handcuffed me and placed me under arrest.They claimed they had received an anonymous tip that I was a material witness for the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack. After my arrest, I was taken in front of New York Judge Michael Mukasey (current U.S. attorney general known for his Israeli sympathies). After a detailed investigation by the FBI and U.S. Naval Intelligence, I was put in front of a Grand Jury. The case was dismissed on November 6, 2001.

Charge #2

 

Before I was released from custody, on November 5, 2001, the U.S. government imposed new charges: “Conspiracy to Commit Fraud and Money Laundering.” They alleged that I stole/misused the identity profiles of my clients, people who come to me seeking to obtain Canadian visas and citizenship in the U.S., although there was not a single complaint from any of my clients or any banks.(Note: Journalist Dr. Paul Craig Roberts stated in his 12/11/06 column, America’s Injustice System is Criminal: “The criminal justice system today consists of a process whereby a defendant is coerced into admitting to a crime in order to escape more severe punishment for maintaining his innocence. Many of the crimes for which people are imprisoned never occurred“).

Every defense attorney knows that today prosecutors can purchase testimony against a defendant by paying “witnesses” with money, dropping charges against them or reducing prison sentences to testify against defendants. Jurors tend to trust government prosecutors and are generally unaware that they will withhold exculpatory evidence and suborn perjury and bear false witness to obtain convictions.

Months went by. Then a year had passed and I was still “detained” without a trial for crimes I did not commit. My lawyer advised me to plead guilty. He said it was in my own best interests as I would be “facing 10 years on the money laundering charge” due to the current climate in New York courts and my being a Muslim and a native of Pakistan. By this time I had served 17 months in detention, so I pled guilty to $95,000 of fraud conspiracy, which carried a maximum sentence of 15 to 24 months. The plea agreement—release for time served—was not even honored and I was sentenced to five years, the sentence for approximately $2,400,000 in credit card fraud.

 

Appeal to CanadaIn January, 2005, when I was finally able to apply for a “treaty transfer” to Canada. I learned from my case manager that my citizenship was listed in the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) computer as “Pakistani” instead of “Canadian.” All my Canadian documentation—passport, citizenship card, social insurance and health cards and Canadian drivers license—were in the possession of the FBI. I wrote the Canadian Consulate in Buffalo, NY, to request that they fix this problem so I could be transferred back to Canada. On March 30, 2005, the Canadian Consulate sent a letter to the jail to correct my citizenship status, but the FBOP ignored the request and did not correct the computer.I realize now that the BOP intentionally left my citizenship as “Pakistani” to make me administratively ineligible for transfer to Canada and keep me in the U.S. while the U.S. government prepared new charges against me.

A year later, six weeks before my scheduled release date, I was transferred from Allenwood FCI to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, NY, supposedly in preparation for my deportation back to Canada. I signed the immigration deportation papers, which incidentally, contained my correct citizenship status. Later I learned the Allenwood FCI warden had been given a summons from Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Lawrence Ferazani in January, 2006, requesting for me to appear in federal court in Brooklyn, NY, on February 15, 2006.

 

Family threatenedOnce in Brooklyn, on January 31, 2006, I phoned my family in Montreal. I learned that Officer Buttazzoni from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had contacted my sister regarding the whereabouts of my wife. He was told that she had returned to Pakistan. Buttazzoni left his phone number with my brother-in-law, telling him to please tell my wife to call him back immediately. She called Buttazzoni several times and left messages on his voice mail, after which Buttazzoni told my brother-in-law to tell her not to call him again.Then on February 17, 2006, I was brought by AUSA Ferazani to an office in New York to be interrogated by the FBI without an attorney present. I was told by AUSA Farazani that if I did not talk they would arrest my sisters in Montreal and my wife, who had returned to Pakistan. He said, “We just have to make a call.”

I was surprised and scared that he knew where my family lived. He stated, “If you don’t tell me [what I want to know] I can recommend lethal injection to the court and call the press and tomorrow morning you will be in every newspaper as a big terrorist.”

Another federal agent told me that if I did not cooperate, they would turn me over to the Indian government, an enemy of Pakistan, which would treat me as an enemy.

At this time I was certain that my family was in danger because they were living in countries that work closely with U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies. After seeing my liberty evaporate when I was cleared of being a material witness in the World Trade Center tragedy, I had every reason to believe that the overarching power of the government would secure my family members’ arrests and inflict severe punishment on them. I strongly believed the RCMP was working in collaboration with the FBI to harass me to admit to charges of crimes that I did not commit. I thought about how the RCMP officials had played a role in other discrimination cases that included the interrogation and torture of Canadian citizens Mahrar Arar, Abdullah Almalki and Ahmed EI Matti, whose only “crimes” were being Canadian Muslims.

Because I felt I had no other choice, I signed the Miranda Rights waiver forms the agent gave me, waiving my right to an attorney’s presence during questioning and spoke with agents of the U.S. government on Feb. 17 and 20, 2006.

 

February 17, 2006: Interrogation…and bribeI was pushed to the edge during this interrogation. Even though I could not answer all of their questions, I was determined to provide anything they wanted, even if the questions made no sense. I tried to give answers so they would be pleased and not give me the death penalty or harm my family.During this interrogation, the agents offered me the opportunity to work for them in an “under cover capacity” abroad in Pakistan and Canada. They wanted me to testify against a group of Sikh people, on fabricated statements, based on my association with them from when I lived in Pakistan. I refused. So they told me to keep in mind that they wanted me to testify against people who are of the Sikh religion from India, an enemy of Pakistan and, because I am a Muslim, I should not have any concern for them.

I said, “But they are human beings! If they did something wrong and I knew about it, I would be more than happy to help the law, but you are asking me about something which I know nothing about.”

The agents waited a couple weeks and then started asking me again, this time through my attorney. Upon my continued refusal, Officer Buttazzoni in Montreal again approached my family. I told them to get an attorney and not to go to his office without a legal written notice from him. They followed my advice and the RCMP stopped calling them—but not before the FBI was able to create a self-incriminating statement based on “evidence” they secured during their interrogation of me without the presence of my attorney. As a result of this, prosecutors were able to go in front of a Grand Jury and indict me, based on my own (fabricated) statements, prepared by federal agents without my signature.

 

Third charge March 16, 2006On March 15, 2006, I completed the term of my imprisonment and was to be deported back to Canada. Before I could even go out onto the street I was arrested a third time and charged with “Providing Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist,” and “Money Laundering to Support Terrorism,” for supposedly providing support to the Sikh organization Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), through a man of the Sikh religion, Mr. Paramjit Singh Panjwar (PMJ), whom I met once when visiting Pakistan.These charges emerged while I was still in prison and had no capability to provide KCF with any kind of support. It was difficult for me to get enough finances together to pay my legal fees while I was in prison for five years and I could not launder any money because I did not have any. In the plea agreement I signed for my previous “money laundering” charge, it is mentioned that no further money laundering charges would be brought against me, so this was double jeopardy and a violation of the 5th Amendment of the Constitution.

August to December, 2006: administrative detention

 

I appeared in court and pled “not-guilty” for my second “superseding indictment” on August 2, 2006. Upon my unwavering refusal to work for the government on their fabricated statements against the Sikh people, FBOP officials placed me into the Segregation Housing Unit (SHU), for 210 days of segregation and isolation despite the fact that I was rated as needing low security on the government’s “Male Custody Classification Form.”Segregation was continuous torture as we were not given basic amenities or respect and the building was cold and leaky. I went on a hunger strike for four days and after that I filed various complaints with the FBOP higher authorities, but no action was taken.

October 2006After my refusal to work for the government on their case against “two individuals” they had identified as “potentially to be joined in this matter, but at this stage we don’t have enough evidence to charge,” the government went to them and indicted them and, giving them a lot of benefits, prepared them to testify against me.During my pre-trial hearing, the first two counts of my indictment were dismissed due to lack of facts and figures. Within two weeks, AUSA indicted me again, probably to cover up for their huge embarrassment. This hastily drawn up indictment was also full of factual errors and creative legal theories.

This time, in the bill of particulars/indictment, AUSA Farazani included the names of the following participants as co-conspirators in this “conspiracy.”

1) Khalid Awan—me2) Paramjit Singh Panjwar—Leader of Sikh Khalisto Commando Force (KFC), residing in Pakistan (not indicted).

3) Gurbax Singh—Indicted as co-conspirator #14) Baljinder Singh—Indicted as co-conspirator #2

5) Jatinder Singh—Residing in Texas (not indicted). 6) Dr. Pritpal Singh—Residing in California (not indicted).Except for me, all the “co-conspirators” are elected leaders of the Sikh religion, a group of people known in Pakistani history books as the worst killers and rapists of the Pakistani nation, having killed, raped, burned and cut into pieces a hundred thousand Pakistani Muslim men, women, girls and infants during the world’s largest migration from India to Pakistan in 1947.

 

Sikh Background (a little history)To better understand the game the U.S. government was playing with me and the Sikh people, a brief history is necessary. The mid-1980s to the mid-1990s was a decade of violent political opposition in Punjab, an area divided between India and Pakistan. The pattern of unlawful and indiscriminate arrests and killings during that time has left a lasting legacy of “catch and kill” police practices in the state. In the early 1980s, the Indian army attacked the Sikh Holy place called the Golden Temple in the Punjab State of India. About 10,000 civilian lives were lost while hundreds of people were detained without charge or trial and thousands of “disappearances” and extrajudicial executions were carried out by the police.As a result, thousands of Sikhs fled to various countries for asylum. Many of the Sikhs who were living near Pakistan took refuge inside Pakistan, having the advantage of speaking the same language and the area being home to established holy places where Sikhs from all over the world came annually to perform their pilgrimage to the Pakistan side of the Punjab state. Pakistan is like a Vatican for the Sikhs, because the Sikh religion was started there and is the birthplace of their holy guru.

Paramjit Singh Panjwar (PMJ)

 

Among these Sikhs, PMJ also took refuge after members of his family were arrested and killed by the Indian police. In Pakistan he started producing videos about the attacks and killings of Sikhs by the Indian police, and started printing and distributing literature on the Sikh problems at the hand of the Indian government. He also started broadcasting a daily radio program and running various charities for Sikh families in India and Pakistan whose bread-winning family members had been killed by the Indian government.I met PMJ during a visit to Pakistan when he was living next to my brother-in-law and I invited him to a wedding. He wrote his phone number down for me on a piece of paper. He also wrote down the number for Baljinder Singh, his friend in New York, because he was a community advocate for the Sikh people who might refer clients to me for immigration purposes. I kept the number, but did not call him.

The FBI had been after Baljinder Singh ever since he delivered a speech in front of the White House at the “Sikh Million March” on Washington in 2000. The FBI had called him for interrogation from 2000 to 2006, but was unable to arrest him. When they interrogated me on February 17, 2006, they told me they needed me to testify in court that the Pakistani government was taking care of terrorists in Pakistan and New York. It was Baljinder Singh, and Gurbax Singh, a close relative of PMJ, that they wanted me to testify against, and since they found his and PMJ’s phone numbers during their search of my office in New York after my arrest in 2001, they deputized their paid Sikh informant, Harjeet Singh, into my unit at MDC in 2006.

Harjeet told me he would be released from federal custody in the next six months and he wished to visit Pakistan for the annual Sikh pilgrimage there. He asked me if I knew some Sikhs in Pakistan who might take care of him during his visit. I replied that I did know Paramjit Singh Panjwar, who was there on asylum and introduced them over the phone.

The FBI then went to Baljinder and Gurbax Singh and convinced them to testify that I had transferred $4000 (two $2,000 transactions allegedly conducted between 1998 and 2002) from them to Pakistan on behalf of PMJ. In exchange for this, they dropped the charges they had against them and promised amnesty from the Indian government (for armed attack on Indian police) and U.S. green cards for them and their families.

PMJ has not been indicted by the U.S. nor convicted by the Indian courts of anything. No effort has been spent for his extradition by U.S. “terror war” ally, Pakistan, though the Pakistani government has, according to AI, handed over 700 Muslim citizens to the U.S. government.

According to my attorneys, no American citizen of the Christian faith nor of the Sikh faith has ever been arrested for providing material support to the KCF, even though the KCF is a Sikh organization that draws its support from members of the Sikh community.

I, on the other hand, a Canadian citizen of Pakistan origin and Muslim faith, on Sept 12, 2007, am the only person in the U.S. to be convicted of terrorism, on fake, fabricated and government purchased testimonies of the Sikh’s religious people, for transferring $4000. I was convicted and sentenced on three counts:

1) Conspiracy to provide material support (14 years)2) Providing material support to foreign terrorists (10 years)

3) Money laundering to support terrorism (14 years)Total: 38 years to run concurrently (14 more years in prison).

 

JailThe government sent me to FCI Terre Haute Prison in Indiana, a “medium” prison with the exception of one isolated unit, called the “Guantanamo Bay on American Soil,”—Unit D, the “dog unit.”According to the history of this jail, this unit was built in the 1930s for Cuban people, after which it was used for convicted members of the Ku Klux Klan. Then it was used for death row inmates until its “permanent closure.” It was re-opened with minor repairs for Muslim inmates because they are worse than death-row inmates—not because of their “crimes” but because of their religious beliefs.

We are denied many privileges according to BOP policy because we are Muslims. Visits must be through glass and phone calls and outgoing mail are routed through Washington D.C. The buildings are old and leaking so it’s cold in the winter, flying insects in the summer and air circulation is poor year round. Lead is seeping out of the walls and many inmates suffer chronic joint pain.

The government is trying to goad us to act violently so they can justify their claim that we are dangerous, but they have failed. According to the jail guards this Muslim unit is the most peaceful they have ever seen in any prison anywhere and they ask to be allowed to work here.

I agree that those guilty of terrorism should be prosecuted, but innocent people should not be targeted. Locking us down in this dirty, old, cold, leaking building and prohibiting us from hugging our children and restricting our calls to them will never bring peace to this country or make this nation safer.

 

To the American people:I have been singled out, isolated and discriminated against because of my race and religion. I am being held here in detention against my will for crimes that I never committed. I am not a terrorist and I should not be treated like one.The AUSA succeeded in getting a verdict against me from the jurors in December, 2006, with the help of the media glamorization of the “war on terror.” I have been convicted of guilt by association; of making the FBI angry and vengeful by refusing both to work for them abroad in an undercover capacity and to testify against members of the Sikh religion using their fabricated statements; and of being a Muslim and native of Pakistan.

Isn’t it time that all humans are equal? Isn’t it time that everyone is free to choose his faith? Are human rights protected by law? We hear this, but we would like to see it – especially in this country called the United States of America that claims itself across the world as a champion of human rights.

This article was edited for publication in the hardcopy edition of The IO. The full-length version is posted online at The IO website under the Nov., 2008 update. You can correspond with Awan by writing to:

Khalid Awan, #50959-054, Federal Correctional Inst., PO Box 33, Terre Haute, IN 47808

 

http://www.awankhalid.com/

 



By: Arifmuhammad