We are residents of Columbia County, NY, who first came
together in the fall of 2002 to vigil in protest of the looming war in Iraq. We
are deeply committed to peace and social justice.
Mr. Mahmood's arrest and deportation are part of the sweep
of Muslim immigrants by the INS (BCIS) which has followed 9/11. This policy is
contrary to the American ideal which seeks to embrace people of all creeds and
ethnicities. As Americans we must in good conscience speak out against the
mistreatment of an individual in our own community.
When Mr. Mahmood pleaded guilty to "harboring illegal
aliens," he did not understand the real meaning and legal implications of
this plea. He had no interpreter and tells us he only briefly saw his lawyer,
who immediately told him to plead guilty.
As Mr. Mahmood's appeal to the INS states, the legislation
against "harboring" was passed specifically to stop the smuggling of
illegal immigrants into the US and not for cases like Mr. Mahmood's. He was not
engaged in concealing or smuggling of illegal aliens: he was simply trying to
provide assistance to people from his own village in Pakistan. The letter of
the law is being practiced above its spirit.
The report of the Inspector General for the US Justice
Department made clear that 9/11 detainees have been treated unfairly and
cruelly. It is time for the American government to make reparations. Treating
Muslim and Arab immigrants and citizens in this country with fairness and
generosity will promote better relations between Muslim and non-Muslim people
in the US and will help change America's image from that of a biased,
anti-Islamic country into that of a country that pursues justice for all.
Ansar Mahmood himself has been holding out, waiting for over
19 months in a federal detention center where he has struggled with loneliness
and despair, because he believes in our American ideals. He believes that
America has a just legal system that will recognize his innocence and that the
American people are good and will not allow injustice and unkindness to
prevail. He holds out hope for all of us.
August 2003
The Committee is: Martin Baumgold, Donna Barrett, Hyla Shifra Bolsta, Jim Cashen, Susan Davies, Wendy Dwyer, Bob Elmendorf, Sareer Fazili, Bruce Frishkoff, Karen Frishkoff, Ed Friederick, Rosalyn Frederick, Marcie Gardner, Azim Goldrick, Max Grieshaber, Landra Haber, Mary Hallenbeck, Peter Jung, Kurt Lehner, David Seth Michaels, Clarke Olsen, Nancy Rothman, Irum Shiekh, Peggy Spier, Dave Spier, Maude White, Susannah White
Chatham Peace
PO Box 34
Chatham, NY 12037
Last updated: August 24, 2003