Trial of Syed Fahad Hashmi Begins Tomorrow in NYC

The trial begins 8:45am, April 28th, 2010 in the SDNY Courthouse, at 500 Pearl Street, Manhattan, NY.  His case will be heard by Judge Preska.  


Hashmi's former professor, Jeanne Theoharis reports on Slate that: "On Wednesday, an American citizen goes to trial, without the right to review all the evidence in his case and after three years of isolation. This is happening not in Guantanamo or even a military brig but in the Southern District of New York. Syed Fahad Hashmi, held in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan, is charged with two counts of providing and conspiring to provide material support to al-Qaida and two counts of making and conspiring to make a contribution of goods or services to al-Qaida. If convicted, he faces 70 years in prison. His case represents the vast, baffling scope of this sort of criminal charge and the abuses committed in the name of fighting terrorism right here at home..."

US tells Iran 'time running out'

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/07/20097162167629318.html

"The US government has sent a strong message to Iran, saying it is running out of time to engage in dialogue over its nuclear programme to avoid further isolation or even military action.

[Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, said that Iran]
"'does have a right to civil nuclear power, if it re-establishes the confidence of the international community that it uses its programmes exclusively for peaceful purposes.'

"'Iran can become a constructive actor in the region if it stops threatening its neighbors and supporting terrorism. It can assume a responsible position in the international community if it fulfills its obligations on human rights,' she said."