May 7, 2008

To all A4Q supporters:

 Very urgent action needed:

I wish to relay to the group our serious concern for the potentially harmful implications that could result from a statement published in today’s Herald News.   Reporter Heather Haddon had this statement in her article:

“Slovinsky solicited Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-Paterson, to testify, but Pascrell opted against it, because he is in Washington, D.C., this week, his spokesman said.” (Source).

 I will be brief and careful as what I say here. Someone reading the above statement can easily deduce the Congressman has changed his mind about his unconditional and most public support for the Imam. The government and the media conceivably will try to create doubt about the Imam’s support from such important figures.

I have spoken to Br. Salah Mustafa (Political Outreach), our attorney Claudia Slovinsky and to Jacky Grindrod from the Congressman’s office. All three expressed their outrage at the statement and its implied  connotations, and they consider it a total misrepresentation of the facts.

I have requested Pascrell’s office not only to demand a retraction in tomorrow edition of the Herald News but to also submit an official letter to our attorney for use as ‘evidence’, if need be, to be submitted to the judge. I have called the reporter and left a stern message about her sloppy journalism, a complaint even the Congressman’s office have encountered with her. In a previous article she wrote, she claimed authorship of several statements that I said to her but she failed to give proper credit. I have sent her an email noting the seriousness of that unethical behavior and have kept record of our corresponded.

Here are the facts about Congressman Pascrell’s offer or lack thereof:

Congressman Pascrell, in my presence, in front of the many public events at the mosque, and at the many dinners we attended, has steadfastly been a most vocal supporter of the Imam. Watch the documentary to see a sample of his unfettered support.

Additionally, the Congressman has written a lengthy testimonial which Ms. Slovinsky presented to the judge showering accolades and providing personal anecdotes about his personal and official relationship with the Imam and the Muslim community in general.

When the Imam’s attorney introduced the names of potential witnesses to the court, the judge expressed his concerns about having a sitting Congressman appearing before him. The judge implicitly cited charges of “political pressure” being used by some as an excuse for a biased court. The judge acknowledges the full extent of the Congressman’s support. The Imam’s attorney, not desirous of upsetting the judge, acquiesced to the request. In conversations with the Congressman’s office, Ms. Slovinsky apprised them of these concerns and thanked the Congressman for his desire to testify. The congressman’s calendar was then freed for other tasks.

To surmise, the Congressman’s support remains solid, he was anxious to testify but common sense and legal maneuverings prompted our legal team not to insist on the Congressman’s testimony. Even without the Congressman, our defense will have strong and very credible character witnesses.

You can’t return an insult with another. Your message must be with a simple yet clear statement of regrets and disappointment and a demand for corrections and apology.

Here is the Number for the reporter: 973-669-7121

Here is her email: haddon@northjersey.com

Here is the list of the paper’s editors:

Mr. Bruce Lowery   Op-ed Assistant Editor  (973) 569-7138  LowryB@northjersey.com

Make sure to CC all the people listed.  Do it now!.

**************************

The following update was issued later that day.

Mr. McCarthy

Editor

Herald News

Dear Mr. McCarthy:

Anticipating your promised response of a retraction and an article in Thursday’s edition of the Herald News, we sent out he below notice to end the Action Alert requested earlier. Please remember the intensity of our passion for the Imam and the sleepless night we have endured to defend him.

Thank you,

Dr. Aref Assaf

Spokesman

Americans for Qatanani

From: friendsofqatanani@googlegroups.com [mailto:friendsofqatanani@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Dr. Aref Assaf
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:35 PM
To: friendsofqatanani@googlegroups.com
Subject: {FriendsOfQatanani} update: Herald News

Our quick and proactive action on the Herald News article will bear fruit.

I spent the entire day talking to the reporter, the editor, and other journalists. They have heard your emails and calls.

While we continue to believe the Herald News has been very fair and accurate in reporting about the Imam, we were right in raising our red flags about the uncorroborated statement.

Mr. Steve McCarthy, HN editor. And I spoke at length and have arrived at the following compromise:  A retraction will be issued clarifying the congressman’s views. More importantly, a short but very concise article will explain our views.

It is vital to remain vigilant as to what is said and done not only during the trial but until the judge renders his decision. Whatever we say or  do will have bearing on the Imam.

We thank the Herald News for so quickly listening to our legitimate concerns and their decision to put the statement in a much more accurate context.

Aref Asaf

A4Q Media