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Dr. Anwar Haddam
The detention of Anwar Haddam represents one of the longest cases of political imprisonment based upon "secret evidence" in America. Dr. Haddam, an Algerian, was elected in 1991 to the Algerian parliament as part of the FIS - Islamic Salvation Front. Following the 1992 coup, the military invalidated the elections and killed or imprisoned many FIS members. Haddam first fled to Morocco, then to the U.S., to the Washington, D.C. area, where he continued to be vocal on Algerian issues. In March 1996, Haddam was tried in absentia in Algeria, first sentenced to life imprisonment, which was changed to a death sentence.
The family was granted parole - permission to reside in the U.S - with the U.S. aware of his political situation and his need to flee Algeria. Haddam was repeatedly granted permission to travel and return to the U.S. In December 1996 that parole was then revoked without proper notice and without rationale to Haddam and his lawyers. The U.S. sought to deport Dr. Haddam back to Algeria. He was arrested and detained before being notified of the change.
The Immigration Judge denied Dr. Haddam asylum only because of the secret evidence. In the Board of Immigration Appeals decision on Haddam's case dated November 30th, 2000, the BIA said the INS had not proven its case - either using public or secret evidence and that Haddam was entitled to political asylum.
Haddam's lawyer, Malea Kiblan, worked with NCPPF to publicize his case. Dr. Haddam was finally released in December 2000 and reunited with his family in Arlington, VA.
For more information on the Anwar Haddam case, go to:
December 2000 About.com article
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