It is crucially important that we keep up the pressure on the federal prosector’s office. Tarek’s next hearing date is not currently known, but we can begin our phone-call, letter/fax, and delegation campaign with full force now.

THINGS YOU CAN DO

1)      On Mon Feb 22^nd and Wed Feb 24^th, call the office of Assistant U.S. Attorney and federal prosecutor Aloke Chakravarty at 617-748-3658 (phone) to voice your outrage at Tarek’s arrest and demand an end to the proceedings against him (see below for talking points (link in blue) and details).

2)    On Tues Feb 23^rd and Thurs Feb 25^th fax a letter expressing your outrage at the federal harrassment and illegitimate proceedings against Tarek to Assistant U.S. Attorney and federal prosecutor Aloke Chakravarty 617-748-3664 (fax). (See below for details).

3)    On Fri Feb 26^th, join a regional call for delegations to the prosecutor’s office (see below for details)

REGIONAL CALL FOR PHONE-IN TO PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE

On Mon Feb 22^nd and Wed Feb 24^th,  we are calling on all supporters and organizers to call Assistant U.S. Attorney and federal prosecutor Aloke Chakravarty at 617-748-3658 (phone) to voice your concerns and outrage at the federal harrassment and illegitimate proceedings against Tarek Mehanna.

This is your opportunity to take a stand against political targeting of Muslims and stand for freedom of speech. When calling, ask to speak with Mr. Chakravarty and if told that you cannot speak with him, ask to leave a message for him and request that it be read back to you and request a reply. Please see talking points.

REGIONAL CALL FOR FAX-IN TO PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE

On Tues Feb 23^rd and Thurs Feb 25^th we are calling on all supporters and organizers to fax a letter expressing your outrage at the federal harrassment and illegitimate proceedings against Tarek to Assistant U.S. Attorney and federal prosecutor Aloke Chakravarty 617-748-3664 (fax)the prosecutor’s office  to voice their outrage at the federal harrassment and illegitimate proceedings against Tarek Mehanna.

• We encourage you to write your own letter if possible, but if you are unable to do so, please see sample letter and talking points below.
• We also urge you to make copies of the sample letter and distribute it at local events for mass faxing.
• Please fax the letter to 617-748-3664 and cc (by e-mail) to Tarek Mehanna’s Defense Committee at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and let us know if we can post your letter.

Aloke Chakravarty
The United States Attorney's Office District of Massachusetts
United States Federal Courthouse
1 Courthouse Way, Suite 9200
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
TEL:617-748-3658
FAX:617-748-3664

Assistant US Attorney Aloke Chakravarty:

I am writing concerning the case of Mr. Tarek Mehanna, a well-respected member of the Muslim community. Highly educated, with a doctorate in pharmacy, he is himself a trusted educator of children, known for his exceptional commitment to helping others.

The FBI's actions against Tarek Mehanna, and the government's decision to prosecute him under charges of "terrorism," are an outrageous example of religious persecution and institutional abuse of power. After arresting Mr. Mehanna in 2008 under the claim that he made "false statements," the FBI repeatedly pressured him to spy on other members of the Muslim community. When he refused to cooperate with what he recognized as a selective policy of religious persecution against Muslims, the FBI arrested him for "terrorism."

These actions can only be construed as vindictive and retaliatory: the FBI has claimed no evidence of new activities to support this second arrest, no information that they did not possess in 2008. Are we to believe that the FBI had credible evidence that Mr. Mehanna was truly a threat to the community in 2008, but failed to bring such charges against him, and thus allowed him to go free on bail for the following year?

Even if the allegations brought against Mr. Mehanna were true, they would themselves be instances of constitutionally protected activities. He is charged with translating documents, posting opinions on websites and having conversations. To define such actions as "material support for terrorism" means punishing US citizens for thought crimes.

Mr. Mehanna's arrest is one more example of religious persecution against Muslims and the suppression of basic civil rights and civil liberties. A growing movement of US citizens considers this arrest and others like it to be one of the greatest domestic threats of the last few years.

I urge you to drop the charges against Tarek Mehanna and allow his immediate release.

Sincerely,

Free Tarek Week of Action:  Mon Feb 22nd through Fri Feb 26th

Tarek’s next hearing date is not currently known, but we must begin to organize more support for him now.
During the week of Feb 22nd through Feb 26th, we are calling for daily action on Tarek’s behalf through a coordinated campaign.

On Thurs Feb 18th, we will post what we are asking of supporters on each day of the Free TarekWeek of Action. Please stay tuned and check the website for updates.