Published with permission.
Dear George Kilpatrick,

I met you at the Community Folk Art Gallery on Saturday and talked to you about the case of Dr. Rafil Dhafir and Help the Needy. I would like to ask you again to consider covering what is happening in this case on your daily “Hour CNY” program.

Below are three unpublished letters to the Post-Standard, all from people who attended the trial for the complete 17 weeks. They give a different view of the proceedings than the newspaper did, and I believe it is important for the public to have access to another view.

This email has been sent out to many individuals and listserves, including the InterReligious Council and Syracuse Peace Council listserves. I am also talking (by email) to Dean David Rubin and Barb Fought of the Newhouse School School at Syracuse University, hoping that they will cover this case on their Friday night program, “Ivory Tower Half Hour”. I believe that Dr. Dhafir, like any other American citizen, deserves to get a fair hearing.

There is more information available on my website: www.dhafirtrial.net

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely, Katherine Hughes

The three Post-Standard letters were included. View in “Court Observers” folder, 2 posted 9/13 and one posted 8/24.

[KH: George Kilpatrick did host a 30 minute interview that aired the night before Dr. Dhafir was sentenced. The panel included, Barrie Gewanter, CNYCLU, and court watchers, Katherine Hughes and Julienne Oldfield.]