"Moderate" MPAC applauds release of Al-Arian

When Sami Al-Arian was sentenced, this is what happened:

"Your only connection to orphans and widows is that you create them," Moody said....

"Dr Al-Arian, as usual, you speak eloquently,'' Moody said . "I find it interesting that here in public in front of everyone you praised this country ... but that's just evidence of how you operate. ... You are a master manipulator.''

Moody said Al-Arian lied about his leadership role with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and criticized him for calling the work "charity for widows and orphans."

"This trial exposed that as a lie. ... The evidence was clear in this case that you were a leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. You were on the board of directors and an officer, the secretary,'' Moody said....

Echoing a paid government informant who testified at the trial, Moody told Al-Arian: "Your children attend the finest universities this country has to offer while you raise money to blow up the children of others.''...

The judge concluded his words to Al-Arian by saying that "anyone with even the slightest bit of human compassion would be sickened'' by a double suicide bombing at Beit Lid, Israel, in January 1995 that killed 22 people. But, he said Al-Arian "saw it as an opportunity to solicit more money to carry out more bombings," and wrote a letter to a Kuwaiti legislator.

But now he is free, and the "moderate" Muslim Public Affairs Council is thrilled. They sent this around to their email list:

*AL-ARIAN RELEASED ON BAIL*

(Washington, DC - 9/2/08) -- The Muslim Public Affairs Council today welcomed the release of former professor Sami Al-Arian from federal custody. Al-Arian was released on bail and will be restricted to home detention while he awaits trial for contempt of court.

Immigration authorities released Al-Arian hours before a federal judge had ordered the agency to explain Al-Arian's continued detention.

Since his arrest five years ago, Al-Arian's case has become an example of what many American Muslims perceived to be numerous post-9/11 political persecutions of individuals using tactics that amount to little more than guilt by association.

[...]

Founded in 1988, the Muslim Public Affairs Council is an American institution which informs and shapes public opinion and policy by serving as a trusted resource to decision makers in government, media and policy institutions. MPAC is also committed to developing leaders with the purpose of enhancing the political and civic participation of Muslim Americans.

The contact person listed on this is none other than the mendacious Edina Lekovic.