On Oct. 26, 2001, George W. Bush signed the USA Patriot Act into law, beginning five years of repressive laws and orders that greatly affect a person's fundamental freedoms. Since that time, 401 cities and counties and eight states have passed resolutions upholding the civil liberties and rights of the 85.1 million residents within their jurisdictions.
Orange County, Chapel Hill and Carrboro belong to this group of communities that passed resolutions protecting residents from repressive measures. On Oct. 17, Bush signed the Military Commissions Act into law, denying U.S. detainees the writ of habeas corpus.
Were any of these new laws used to cause the immediate detention of Sima Fallahi, a well-liked and dedicated volunteer of the Carrboro community, when she applied for a license to sell her art? According to reports, a criminal check was made and it revealed that a detainer had been placed on her by the federal government, so the Chapel Hill Police Department was obligated to arrest her. Her "crime" was that she had over-extended her student visa. Currently she sits in federal prison, away from her 11-year-old U.S.-born daughter, Leila, waiting to be deported to Iran, where she may face death.
The Orange County Bill of Rights Defense Committee supports the human rights and fair treatment of all persons, including Sima Fallahi and anyone else detained with little means of recourse.
In the meantime, friends of Sima Fallahi are setting up a fund to pay for a lawyer in the attempt to have her case heard. Check for updates about these efforts and to read about her story on www.carrboro.com/sima/. -- Margaret Misch, Carrboro
(Downloaded from Chapel Hill News: http://www.chapelhillnews.com/155/story/4169.html
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