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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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12 October 2009

Update Alert: USA – Poor prison conditions contribute to the deteriorating health of Sheikh Omar Abdul Rahman

Contents
1. Summary
2. Background

1. Summary

IHRC have recently spoken to the family of the blind Sheikh Omar Abdul Rahman, regarding his failing health and deprived prison conditions. The family have released a statement urging the Muslim community to become active in campaigning for the release of the Sheikh.

2. Background

Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has received unconfirmed reports from the family of Sheikh Omar Abdul Rahman, describing his horrendous circumstances.
According to his son ‘… his health is deteriorating, he’s not able to walk on his own, and he needs assistance to do so. He has illnesses of the head and the stomach, he has severe headaches. His room is near the mental health wing of the prison; he constantly hears screaming and cannot rest or sleep properly.’

The blind sheikh also told his family that the prison authorities are giving him food and drink that contain pork and alcohol.  

Sheikh Omar has been imprisoned for 18 years, in which time his family have received permission to see him only once, despite numerous applications. There only form of contact is monthly phone calls that last twenty minutes.

Ramsey Clarke who is currently the attorney for the Sheikh is barred from speaking to any external organization regarding the case, due to the conditions of his legal representation. If these terms are breached then Sheikh Omar will lose the right to any legal representation.

The family of Sheikh Omar have released the following statement:

“I urge the Muslims all over the world to move on this issue. Where are you oh Muslims? A great Sheikh of this generation is suffering whilst in the heart of America, and the world ignores him. Where is the dignity of the Muslims?  Obama promises change and change with its relationship towards the Muslim world. Where is this change? Prove this change with the release of the Sheikh, who is innocent of all that he’s been accused of.”

Please visit Sheikh Omar’s campaign page to download campaign pack:                                                                                                                                                                                        https://www.ihrc.org.uk/show.php?id=2910

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“And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! Cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper.”
Holy Qur’an: Chapter 4, Verse 75

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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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