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Greens Condemn FBI Raid and Murder of Imam Abdullah

Ecological Wisdom * Social Justice
Grassroots Democracy * Non-Violence

Green Party of Michigan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.MiGreens.org


** News Release **
** ------------ **
November 2, 2009


For More Information, Contact:
-----------------------------

Fred Vitale, state chairperson
chair@migreens.org
313-580-4905

Aimee Smith, Media Cmte/GPMI
alsmith@hvgreens.org
734-761-9901

The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) offers its condolences to the family of respected community and religious leader, Imam Luqman A. Abdullah.

The Green Party of Michigan is joining the call from Imam Abdullah's family and others for an independent investigation into an FBI raid in Dearborn, MI on Oct. 28 that resulted in Imam Abdullah being shot 18 times and left to die.

"We condemn this FBI raid and murder of an innocent man," Green Party of Michigan Chair Fred Vatale said. "The FBI fails even today to bring charges of terrorism against the other people arrested. Rather it and the corporate media make wild accusations; their only witnesses unreliable former criminal informants, dependent on the FBI for food and freedom. It appears that the only charges are those associated with petty crime, and even these were instigated by government agents and grinding poverty."

"We are having a hard time believing the FBI claims that this was simply an arrest gone wrong. We are deeply concerned by reports that Imam Abdulluh was left to die from his wounds while an injured police dog was airlifted for medical treatment. Such behavior demonstrates an intent to kill rather than enforce the law," said Derek Grigsby, Detroit Green Party Co-chair. "Given the historical and current antipathy of the FBI towards people of African descent and Muslims, we are left to wonder if the death of Imam Abdullah was not exactly what was intended for that day."

"It is the FBI agents and police officers that were engaging in terrorism last Wednesday." said Linda Najar of the Huron Valley Greens. "Why the focus in the FBI complaint on Imam Adbullah's religion when it was not in any way connected to the alleged crimes? I believe this is driven by a need to demonize muslims at home in order to build support for the unpopular wars against muslim countries abroad, the so-called war on terror." Najar adds, "If Imam Abdulluh was angry, I wonder can't we ask why? Or is it the answer to that question that the authorities are really afraid of."



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Green Party of Michigan
548 South Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
http://www.migreens.org
734-663-3555

GPMI was formed in 1987 to address environmental issues in Michigan politics. Greens are organized in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each state Green Party sets its own goals and creates its own structure, but US Greens agree on Ten Key Values:

Ecological Wisdom
Grassroots Democracy
Social Justice
Non-Violence
Community Economics
Decentralization
Feminism
Respect for Diversity
Personal/Global Responsibility
Future Focus/Sustainability