Terror Indictments

Al-Arian moved to federal facility

The former USF professor, suspected of funding a terrorist group, has been moved for security reasons.

By GRAHAM BRINK, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 28, 2003

TAMPA -- Citing security reasons, federal officials have moved former University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian from the Hillsborough County Jail to the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County.

Federal officials would not give more details on their reasons for moving Al-Arian, who is charged with conspiring to help the Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian terrorist organization.

Nahla Al-Arian said her husband called after arriving at Coleman to tell her the news. She said she would try to visit him today. It was her understanding that Al-Arian was being placed in solitary confinement and that his telephone and visitor privileges would be limited.

"This is opening my eyes to things that I thought only happened in dictatorships," Nahla Al-Arian said. "This means more trouble, more hardships for me, my kids and for him."

The move comes two days after Al-Arian's bail hearing ended in federal court in Tampa. The judge has yet to release his ruling on whether to grant bail to Al-Arian and the three other men arrested in the case, all of whom were also moved from the jail early Thursday morning.

The four men were arrested last month on charges that include conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to murder, maim or injure people on foreign soil, including U.S. citizens.

The indictment does not accuse Al-Arian or the three other defendants any terrorist attacks. The allegations focus on their role in supporting and raising funds for the Islamic Jihad.

During the recent four-day bail hearing, the lawyers speculated that the trial would not take place for about two years. The prosecutors had said earlier that once started, the trial could take six months to a year.

Al-Arian's lawyer could not be reached for comment about Al-Arian's move.

-- Graham Brink can be reached at (813) 226-3365 or brink@sptimes.com .

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