Muslims found innocent govt. refuses to release them

AL-ARIAN ASSOCIATE REMAINS CONFINED - TOPMEG LAUGHLIN, St. Petersburg Times, 1/19/06http://www.sptimes.com/2006/01/19/Tampabay/Al_Arian_associate_re.shtmlImmigration officials are still holding Sameeh Hammoudeh because he could have terrorism ties.TAMPA - Although a jury acquitted Sameeh Hammoudeh of terrorism charges, immigration officials are not convinced.They want to keep him in jail, and on Wednesday a U.S. immigration judge denied him bail."Hammoudeh is being held because (immigration) still believes he has ties to terrorism," said Pam McCullough, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.The agency will not release Hammoudeh, a co-defendant in the Sami Al-Arian trial, pending his deportation on a federal tax evasion conviction.Hammoudeh's situation is reminiscent of Al-Arian's brother in law, Mazen Al-Najjar, who was arrested for violating immigration laws and denied bail because the government said it had secret evidence of his terrorist ties. Al-Najjar spent more than four years behind bars before he was deported.McCullough acknowledged Hammoudeh's acquittal but said immigration officials don't agree with the jury's unanimous decision.