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© St. Petersburg Times, published May 8, 2002
ST. PETERSBURG -- In less than a week, Mazen Al-Najjar, a longtime Tampa resident suspected of ties to terrorists, could gain his freedom.
His brother-in-law, suspended University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian, is not optimistic.
He thinks the government likely will argue that Al-Najjar, whose solitary confinement at a federal complex in Sumter County expires May 14, is a national security threat.
"I'm certainly hopeful that the judge would rule in our favor, and I hope she does it soon," Al-Arian said Tuesday after a presentation about the history of Palestine.
Al-Arian spoke to a crowd of about 50 people at a Citizens United for Shared Prosperity meeting held at the Uhuru house.
"We feel in general that the Palestinians are not heard and the news is skewed toward legitimacy," said Omali Yeshitela, CUSP chairman, who invited Al-Arian to speak.
Al-Arian is fighting his own battle.
After his alleged connections to terrorists were aired on national television shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, Al-Arian was subjected to numerous death threats. Citing safety concerns, the USF board of trustees voted in December to recommend firing the tenured computer science professor.
"A local push, group of people, have made it their campaign to somehow get me out of the job I have because they don't want anybody who would speak on behalf of the Palestinians in the public forum," Al-Arian said.
With his lawyers poised, Al-Arian is awaiting a final word from University president Judy Genshaft.
That decision has been delayed, and Genshaft has not indicated when she will make it final.