Fahad Hashmi, an American citizen and Brooklyn College graduate, whose case, and treatment at the hands of the federal government, were the subject of a comic I drew, plead guilty yesterday to knowingly allowing waterproof socks to be transported through his house in London to Al Qaida.
Thanks to a plea bargain the day before his trial was set to open, he will face 15 years in prison, as opposed to the possibility of 70.
From the blog set up by his supporters:
Today’s decision does not in any way detract from the importance of the work we’ve been doing and the civil rights and human rights issues that Fahad’s case has raised. The government’s use of Special Administrative Measures and the attacks on due process in “terrorism” cases like Fahad’s continue and cast a pall on the US justice system. For that reason, we plan to hold our usual vigil on Monday night outside the Metropolitan Correctional Center. We hope you will spread the word and join us.
We will be posting further thoughts and analysis on Fahad’s case and the attendant issues in the coming week.
CUNY 4 Fahad
Theaters Against War
Educators for Civil Liberties
