DhafirTrial

Published 8/27/08
To the editor:

Almost five and a half years to the day that he became the first and only U.S. citizen jailed for resisting U.S. economic sanctions against the people of Iraq, Dr. Rafil Dhafir, a Syracuse oncologist who helped raise almost $5 million in humanitarian supplies for the Iraqi people, will have his appeal heard at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City, on August 28, 2008. (more…)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 18, 2008
Contact: Katherine Hughes
katherinehugh [at] gmail.com
Dr. Dhafir Support Committee

Syracuse Doctor Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Helping Iraqi People Heads to Appeals Court August 28 in New York City (more…)

By Bob Elmendorf ZMagazine 2/20/08

In an unusual judicial irony, Dr. Rafil Dhafir, a Syracuse oncologist and U.S. citizen, was convicted two years ago of breaking the Iraqi sanctions by sending aid to starving children. He is serving a 22-year sentence in the Federal Correctional Institution in Terre Haute, Indiana. (more…)

The brief in response to the government brief has now been submitted, Reply Brief of Appellant Dhafir. This is the final brief and we now await a date for oral arguments, most likely they will be some time in the fall.

The Opening Brief was submitted 2/08/08. The Government Response Brief was submitted 4/08/08. For more information about the appeal process see here.

The government submitted its brief in response to the appeal brief submitted by Dr. Dhafir’s lawyers, Peter Goldberger and Barry Boss, on Wednesday, April 8th, 2008. Dr. Dhafir’s lawyers have a right to reply within two weeks (or longer if granted by the court). A few months after this reply is submitted, the defense and prosecution will be invited to present oral arguments before a panel of 3 judges. ( more about the appeal…)

No Justice, mercy shown in case of Dhafir and Iraq (Published, 2/27/08.)

To the Editor:

In reply to the question: “Do we want Dhafir’s justice to be America’s”? in the Feb. 21, Post-Standard:

I believe that when one is denied justice we are all denied justice. Lies enslave us all. (more…)

(Published 2/21/08 with the title, “Do we want Dhafir’s justice to be America’s?” The last paragraph was not included in the Post-Standard.)

To the editor:

On February 26, 2003, Dr. Rafil Dhafir, a prominent Syracuse oncologist, was arrested and 150 Muslim families interrogated in connection with a charity established to provide humanitarian aid to children suffering in Iraq. As we approach the fifth anniversary of that arrest, it seems pertinent to question the continued persecution of Dr. Dhafir, an Iraqi-born U.S. citizen of some 30 years. (more…)

Dr. Dhafir’s appeals brief was filed yestreday and it will be available on this website very soon.