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EMERGENCY- Please spread far and wide
Anti-Authoritarian Comrade detained by FBI/INS
Comrades- Ahmed Bensouda, a member of the Champaign-Urbana based anti-authoritarian collective Unity & Struggle was detained by the FBI, yesterday, Thursday, May 30, at 2:30 pm.
Ahmed, 22 years-old, with Unity & Struggle, has been deeply active in Palestine Solidarity work. The University of Illinois has one of the most visible public campaigns for Israeli Divestment in the country and Ahmed has been a strong part of it. Ahmed has participated in actions against the U of I's racist Chief Illiniwek. He has also been involved in Anti-Racist Action's campaign against the white supremacist and anti-semitic World Church of the Creator. Ahmed has also participated in recent discussions of anti-authoritarian activists in the midwest/Great Lakes region.
Ahmed had been visited recently by the INS for an "interview", part of Ascroft's witchhunt of Arab immigrants/students/activists in the U.S. We have no idea what reason the Feds are using for detention of Ahmed. Last night they would not even confirm that they had him.
Strangely, this morning Ahmed was briefly brought back to his apartment by INS agents, hand-cuffed and shackled, supposedly to "collect clothes". Several of Ahmed's friends and comrades were there, having been tipped off that agents were bringing Ahmed back. His friends report that Ahmed seemed "out-of-it" and "incommunicative". He had very likely been deprived of sleep, questioned, and threatened all night. He did indicate to one friend that the agents were lying when they said that he had been given an oppurtunity to make a phone call and had declined. Ahmed said he had been given no oppurtunity to contact anyone. Ahmed was then taken away again by the agents and is reportedly being held in Springfield, the state capital.
The agents seized computer files from the apartment and reportedly said that they were planning on deporting Ahmed. Ahmed has U.A.E. citizenship (though is of Morroccan/Gambian nationality). Ahmed is in the U.S. legally, and all of his papers are reportedly in good order, so it is unclear on what grounds Ahmed is being threatened with deportation, or if that is even the real reason at all for his detention.
His friends and comrades have obtained the services of a Chicago-based attorney with a good rep, but this will undoubtedly be expensive. Family members in the U.S. have been contacted and are supportive of our efforts.
Comrades, this is no time to be shy. One of our own has been seized by the State on purely racist and/or political grounds. We must answer this challenge. There is a need for pickets/demos and other appropriate action at U.S Federal buildings, Embassies, and Consulates demanding the immediate release of Ahmed Bensouda, the release of thousands of other Arabs and Muslims detained in the U.S. without cause, hands off the Palestine Solidarity movement, and hands off anti-authoritarian activists.
There will be active committees in both the Chicago and Champaign-Urbana areas, but we must make this an national, and international campaign.
For more information check the Champaign-Urbana Indymedia Center site, which has devoted a page to Ahmed's case: www.ucimc.org
For those who want to become part of core-organizing on this case please join foa at lists.cu.groogroo.com
An Injury to One is an Injury to All!
Free Ahmed Bensouda! Release all Arab and Muslim Detainees! Hands off the Palestine Solidarity Movement! Hands off Anti-Authoritarian activists!