CAIR Seeks Release of Fla. Muslim Arrested After Acquittal

WASHINGTON, April 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A prominent national Islamic
civil rights and advocacy group today called for the immediate release of a
Florida Muslim arrested yesterday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
even though he was recently acquitted of federal charges.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) held a news
conference this morning in Tampa to call for the release of Youssef Megahed, a
former University of South Florida student who was found not guilty of
explosives charges on Friday.

VIDEO: CAIR Seeks Release of Fla. Muslim Arrested After Acquittal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuTf03dFKqA
SEE ALSO: CAIR Seeks Megahed Release; Father: 'No Freedom for Muslims'
http://tinyurl.com/cht6ct
Youssef Megahed Faces New Battle After Seizure by Immigration Officials
http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/article990078.ece

"While we applaud President Obama's efforts to reach out to the Muslim world,
his administration needs to address the growing concerns American Muslims have
about different standards of justice being applied to them," said CAIR
National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "The un-American arrest of a legal
permanent resident who has just been found not guilty by a jury of his peers
damages the president's encouraging message to Muslims in this nation and
worldwide."

Awad noted that just yesterday CAIR joined a coalition of American Muslim
groups in applauding President Obama's Monday address to the Turkish
parliament in which he noted the positive contributions of American Muslims.
At the news briefing expressing support for the president's international
outreach initiatives, the Muslim groups asked him to deal with domestic civil
liberties and due process issues raised by cases such as the one in Tampa.

SEE: American Muslims to Obama: 'Charity Begins at Home'
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=46196
Video: CAIR Director Discusses President's Outreach to Muslim World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cuoPh4Oq60

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 35 offices and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR-Tampa Executive Director Ramzy Kilic, Tel: 813-514-1414 or
813-486-2529, E-Mail: rkilic@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director
Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR
Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787 or 202-341-4171, E-Mail:
arubin@cair.com

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations

Ramzy Kilic, Tampa Executive Director, +1-813-514-1414, +1-813-486-2529,
rkilic@cair.com; or Ibrahim Hooper, National Communications Director,
+1-202-488-8787, +1-202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; or Amina Rubin,
Communications Coordinator, +1-202-488-8787, +1-202-341-4171, arubin@cair.com,
all of CAIR