April 14, 2006

Sami Al-Arian to be deported

Al-Arian update from AP:

WASHINGTON — Federal authorities have decided to deport a former University of South Florida professor and long-time Palestinian rights activist after failing to convict him on charges he helped finance terrorist attacks in Israel.

Two lawyers familiar with the case say Sami Al-Arian has reached an agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty to a lesser charge and be deported.

The lawyers spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been made public by the court.

It isn't clear where Al-Arian will be sent.

Al-Arian has been in jail since a Tampa jury acquitted him in December on eight of the 17 federal charges against him, then deadlocked on the rest...