PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Farouk Abdel-Muhti dies
by stephen donahue Thursday, Jul. 22, 2004 at 11:22 AM

Regular on Pacifica Radio, he had just been released from two years of detention by US Immigration authorities.

Palestinian-born activist Farouk Abdel-Muhti died of a massive heart attack in Philadelphia around 10PM on July 21, 2004. He was in Philadelphia as part of a panel discussing on immigrant rights and the mistreatment of immigrant detainees in this country. Farouk was held by US authorities for 718 days only being released on April 12, 2004. Farouk was believed to be 58 years old and he is survived by his son, Tarek.

This is very sad news. Many of us who never got to meet Farouk felt as if we knew him because of the deep support given to him during his detention by those who fell in love with this gentleperson and advocated tirelessly for his release. Farouk suffered a lot in the various jail houses where he was confined. At the York County, PA prison he was held in solitary confinement for 8 months. He was beaten up by guards in Hackensack, NJ jail and at the Manhattan Federal Building in NYC. Farouk joined in an eight day hunger strike with other Middle Eastern prisoners while being held in the Passaic Co., NJ jail and while at the same jail helped to organize an open letter signed by 81 immigrant detainees protesting their confinement. All this was done at great risk of reprisals from the US authorities.

Farouk, prior to his arrest was a regular on radio station WBAI with a program called "Wakeup Call." He gave a voice to Palestinians living under occupation. Since his release Farouk was busy again on radio station WBAI and was often on the road doing speaking engagements.

"There are still many thousands of detainees and prisoners in jail who are suffering." "We have won a victory, but we still have to win the war for justice, equality and rights for both immigrants and for all the people in the nation who are fighting for democratic rights and social justice." (Farouk Abdel-Huhti words spoken not long after his release from detention.)

Go to http://www.wbai.org to read more about Farouk.

To all who knew and loved Farouk we send our deepest condolences and our love. We will carry on. Eternal memory!

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