Fred Karpoff:

Outstanding piece that is long overdue. I, too, have followed this case for over eight years and have concluded that a huge travesty of justice has taken place in Dr. Dhafir’s case. He has already served nearly 10 years in confinement, often in terrible conditions–yet Judge Mordue ‘resentenced’ Dhafir to 22 years, unmoved by the evidence of the miscarriage of justice he presided over, and by the dozens of letters of support for Dr. Dhafir written by upstanding members of our community. (Remember that Dhafir was originally offered a lesser sentence; what is being accomplished by keeping this man in jail? What was accomplished in the first place? And in the name of what?)

It is rather suspicious to read the kinds of posts by ‘lightless’ and his ilk, who hide behind anonymous user names and apparently have plenty of spare time to comment negatively and dismissively about issues of justice that do not concern them. Empathy is not a universal human trait, of course, but I can’t help but wonder whether it is indeed a ‘player’ in the original case with a vested interest.

Dhafir has suffered unjustly. Even if he were guilty of a legitimate crime–how long would have been a just sentence for said ‘crime’? What would be a just sentence for the principals who led us into unjust and unwarranted wars?

Be sure to read Katherine Hughes’ post and follow the links for a fuller picture of this sordid story, which few Syracusans know.

Just because ‘lightless’ and others have no trouble sleeping–or even seem gleeful–over others’ unjust suffering, doesn’t mean that the majority of us must remain complicit. And acting like your feelings are hurt and implying that anyone brave enough to label injustice as fascism is somehow not patriotic is a pathetic way of trying to silence free speech. Tried and true, yes, but pathetic nonetheless.
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Lightless
Reminiscent of the locals holding up signs of “BABY MILK FACTORY” when weapons plants were struck by military action….
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Notaniceguy
his is printed today because?

Response by Katherine Hughes

This is printed today because: the Syracuse public has rarely had an opportunity to view this case from any other point of view than the government’s, and publishing this letter today goes some small way towards redressing the balance; This is printed today because: Dr. Dhafir continues to be punished for his humanitarian urge of sending food and medicine to starving Iraqi civilians during the brutal 13-year embargo on that country; This is printed today because: Dr. Dhafir is only half way through his 22 year-sentence for his crime of compassion and, as a man in his twilight years, he will likely die in prison if others do not demand justice on his behalf. This is printed today because: having sat through every day of the 14-week trial and witnessing a colossal injustice, the very least this man deserves is that more people in this community know of his compassion and integrity as I witnessed at trial. According to the government, Dr. Dhafir gave half his income to charity each year. He also had his medical practices in the under-served communities of Camden, Wampsville, and Rome, often paying for chemotherapy for patients out of his own pocket; This is printed today because: it is the very least Dr. Dhafir and the Syracuse public deserve.