Da: "radtimes" Oggetto: [stop-polabuse] Boston torture victim: Support urged for jailed Palestinian Data: mercoledì 3 luglio 2002 7.50 Boston torture victim: Support urged for jailed Palestinian Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the July 4, 2002 issue of Workers World newspaper ------------------------- BOSTON TORTURE VICTIM: SUPPORT URGED FOR JAILED PALESTINIAN By Frank Neisser Boston Palestinian activist Jaoudat Abouazza was detained in Boston May 30 on the pretext of minor traffic violations. He was held and interrogated at least seven times in one weekend by the FBI. During this time Abouazza wasn't given access to a lawyer. He was moved to Immigration and Naturalization Service custody on June 4. Why was Abouazza detained over traffic matters routinely handled with minor fines? His captors cited leaflets in his car promoting a legally permitted pro-Palestinian protest scheduled to take place at the June 9 Israeli Independence Day Festival in Boston. Abouazza is a leader in the local Palestinian community. He has been at the forefront of marches for Palestinian rights and demonstrations in front of the Israeli Consulate. While in INS custody at the Bristol County House of Correction in North Dartmouth, Abouazza has been grossly abused. Four of his teeth were forcibly extracted. Guards removed him from his cell and held him down in a chair while his teeth were pulled. This occurred at 10 a.m. on June 15. The effects were visible to visitors from the Jaoudat Abouazza Defense Committee at 6 p.m. that evening. Abouazza has also been beaten, arbitrarily thrown into isolation, and left on a cold floor without furniture or socks. The INS didn't permit Abouazza to appear at his district court hearing on the original charges, despite a habeas order from the court that he be produced. Over the objections of his lawyer, the judge found Abouazza in default for failing to appear and issued a warrant for his arrest. On June 27 Abouazza will have a hearing before INS Judge Shapiro at the JFK Federal Building in Boston. The Jaoudat Abouazza Defense Committee is mobilizing a demonstration at noon in front of the building to demand that Abouazza be freed immediately and that those responsible for the brutal abuse against him be brought to account. Supporters are urged to send letters demanding his immediate release to: INS District Director Steve J. Farquharson, Room 1700, JFK Federal Building, Boston, MA 02203. Send copies to: Commissioner James W. Ziglar, Immigration and Naturalization Service, 425 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20536, and to the Jaoudat Abouazza Defense Committee, c/o International ANSWER, 31 Germania St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. Copies of these protests and letters of solidarity can also be sent to: Jaoudat Abouazza, Bristol County Jail and House of Correction (N. Dartmouth), 400 Faunce Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747, GB Unit, ID#120541 (put unit and ID on lower left corner of the envelope).