Journey for Justice

Deliver the Petition for Yassin Aref by walking from Albany to Binghamton, NY - July 12 to July 23, 2013

A Victim of Mistaken Identity

Yassin Aref, a Kurdish imam, was entrapped by a criminal con artist hired by the FBI. Despite no evidence that Yassin supported any terrorist activity, the post-9/11 climate made the jury afraid to acquit him or his co-defendant, Mohammed Hossain. (For more information on Yassin and his case, see this article in New York Magazine, 'Little Gitmo.' )

Through a recent FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) request, Yassin's defense attorneys learned about secret evidence that misidentified Yassin as an Al-Qaeda agent. This evidence, which led to his conviction, was apparently shown to the trial judge and appeal court, but not to the defense.

The government convicted the wrong man. Yassin is not a terrorist.

Now the defense has prepared a motion to reopen the case based on this dramatic new evidence of mistaken identity. We are asking you to sign a petition to the judge who will, we hope, consider this motion. The petition requests that the judge give serious consideration to Yassin's motion to reopen the case.

This photo of Yassin Aref and his 6-year-old daughter was taken during a rare prison visit. To publicize the importance of this motion, and to emphasize to the judge that Albany has not forgotten this case, Lynne Jackson, accompanied by other supporters, will walk 133 miles from Yassin's home city of Albany, New York to hand-deliver the petition to the judge, who is located in Binghamton, New York.

The "Journey for Justice", sponsored by Project SALAM) will start at 6:00 PM on Friday, July 12, 2013 at the Masjid As-Salam in Albany, New York and end on Tuesday, July 23 at 11:00 AM at the Federal Court House, 15 Henry Street, Binghamton, New York.

Please sign our petition to the judge, asking him to seriously consider reopening Yassin's case.

Would you like to volunteer for the walk?

First, please sign the online petition

Print-out the petition, have people sign it, and send the petition to Lynne Jackson, 223 South Swan Street, Albany, NY 12202 by July 12.

Walk with Lynne Jackson - Join the walk for a few feet, a few miles, a few days or the entire distance. Email lynnejackson@mac.com if you would like to walk. Please read the conditions of the Journey for Justice so you know what you are getting into. And here is what walkers should bring with them.

Provide support for the walkers by offerint over-night housing for the walkers. Please call Lynne Jackson at 518-366-7324 or email lynnejackson@mac.com if you can house one or more walkers.

Help publicize the walk. Share the petition with your friends!

Links to:

Please sign the Petition for Yassin Aref - A Case of Mistaken Identity

Rally and March - Friday, July 12, 6:00 PM, Albany, NY

Journey for Justice - Deliver petition to home court of the judge by walking to Binghamton, NY

Walk Route - List of beginning and ending locations for each day, July 12 to July 23

Notes on conditions of the walk

Become a sponsor for the Journey for Justice

Information about what walkers should bring

Press packet and supporting documents

Follow the Journey for Justice on the blog

Follow the Journey for Justice on twitter