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Terrorist Will Gain Asylum Unless Action Taken Now

It has just come to JINSA’s attention that Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) senior leader Anwar Haddam will be granted asylum in the U.S. The FIS is an extremist Algerian organization that, while funding benign endeavors, engages in terrorism to destabilize the current Algerian government. FIS is strongly linked to the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) a similar Algerian organization that makes no pretense about its use of extreme violence, most often against civilians.


It has just come to JINSA’s attention that Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) senior leader Anwar Haddam will be granted asylum in the U.S. The FIS is an extremist Algerian organization that, while funding benign endeavors, engages in terrorism to destabilize the current Algerian government. FIS is strongly linked to the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) a similar Algerian organization that makes no pretense about its use of extreme violence, most often against civilians.

Background:

In April 1993, Anwar Haddam, the official head of the FIS Parliamentary Delegation to Europe came to the U.S. with his family and requested asylum. For the past three years, Haddam has worked at the American Muslim Council acting as a spokesperson for FIS. He has made numerous statements supporting acts of violence and terrorism against civilians, has been linked to acts of terrorism, and has openly collaborated with representatives of other radical terrorist groups such as Hamas.

In December 1996, deportation proceedings (to have been heard on March 5, 1997) against Haddam were initiated by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) with support from State Department and Justice Department officials. Their case would demonstrate that Haddam had supported, championed and was probably involved with terrorism during his stay in the U.S. and had lied in official statements to U.S. officials that he disapproves of terrorism.

On January 27, 1997, however, the State Department suddenly reversed its position and sent a sealed letter in support of Haddam’s asylum request to the INS Magistrate. Sometime between February 9 and 12, 1997, INS was ordered by yet unidentified government agencies or officials to drop its deportation proceedings against Haddam. The granting of asylum is now imminent unless senior officials are moved to postpone it.

Decision:

The effect of granting asylum to Haddam would be a signal to all radical “political” groups that employment of terrorism is no barrier to the use of America as a political and financial safe haven. Haddam has claimed that he will be executed if he is returned to Algeria. Deportation would not automatically result in him being sent back to Algeria. He would be sent to any country willing to accept him. If his asylum is granted, however, Haddam would be eligible immediately for legal permanent resident status and within a year, U.S. citizenship.

To halt the granting of asylum to Anwar Haddam, you should immediately contact Senators and Representatives in Congress.