NEWS ADVISORY:

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Mn - As an Advisory Board member of CAIR, and as the counsel of record for Omar Jama! in the criminal case referenced in the tetter, t must go on record to clarify any unwarranted characterizations about the case. of course, CAtR can and MUST put forward its positions in any way it thinks appropriate to its mission, including accurate critique of programs and persons which CAIR differs.
ST. Paul,

ln fact, we have the documents to show that Mr. Jamal was singled out for criminai prosecution for minor errors on an immigration form, which the INS agent in charge of Mr. Jamat's case agreed were "too confusing for the jury to understand, even as native English speakers." He was targeted by an Agent Nordeen at the Bloomington MN lNS with the intention of discrediting him BECAUSE the his outspoken objections to the closing of Hawallah's after 9-11.

to 1-year probation, the lowest felony-sentence possible and the conviction, standing alone, did not require deportation for prevent his seeking permanent status. To the extent the letter mischaracterizes the case in which I represented him, I witt have to make a public statement to prevent improper tarnishing of his character while this important campaign to expose FBI abuses and targeting Muslims continues full force. This is the same obligation I would have to any client in this situation.
However, in order to avoid confusion caused by my dual role, it is best that t request a sabbaticat from Advisory Board duties, untilthis matter is resotved without more public conftict that is necessary t hope. However, t do have an obligation, to put the CAIR and the Advisory Board on notice that statements that are knowingly fatse or misleading, regarding a person's character, are not protected by the First Amendment and may expose the signing organizations to civil- liability. But onty the members of the Somali community injured by the letter can decide to resolve this matter internatly or

The judge sentenced Jamal

not. trust we will all continue tc find ways of broadening opposition to government policies and repression that have become normal in our time. The campaign in which CAIR and other organization are engaged to end targeting Mustims, and those opposed to U.S. foreign poticy MUST go fonrard because the CAIR criticism of FBt and law enforcement programs that target Mustims is absotutely correct policn the execution of that poticy is at issue here.
I

ln the end, building a national response across divisions that seem important at the moment is in the interest of al! who oppose the attack on civil liberties facing Muslim peopte, in the long run. best regards,

Prof. Peter Erlinder Director: lnternational Criminal Law lnstitute l65t-290-63841peter.erlinder@wmitchell.edu