arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)
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Pro-Palestinian Activist Wins Open INS Hearing by freespeech radio Wednesday July 03, 2002 at 04:18 PM |
On May 30th, Palestinian solidarity activist Ahmed Bensouda was taken from his home in handcuffs by federal officials, ostensibly the result of a minor visa violation. Bensouda, who carries Moroccan and Gambian passports, was picked up by INS agents shortly after visiting the Israeli Consulate in Chicago in an attempt to get a visa to visit Palestine, and has been repeatedly interviewed by both INS and FBI officials. Two weeks ago, federal officials closed a bond hearing for Bensouda's case to the public, citing issues of "national security," and announced plans to present "secret evidence" showing why Bensouda should be denied bond.
But on July 21 Bensouda won a major victory when, in the face of public pressure, a federal judge forced the INS to open Bensouda's hearings and allow his family to post bond so he can be released. Chris Giovannis files this report from outside the federal courtroom in Chicago.
stream.realimpact.org/rihurl.ram?file=webactive/freespeech/fsrn20020621.ra&st...