Dr. Rafil Dhafir
Update from Katherine Hughes, For the Dr. Dhafir Support Committee.
On Friday, February 3rd, in Syracuse, New York, U.S. District Judge Norman Mordue resentenced Dr. Rafil Dhafir to 22 years in prison, in large part because he is unrepentant about sending food and medicine to starving Iraqi civilians in violation of International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA). According to UN estimates, between 1 and 1.5 million Iraqi civilians died as a direct result of the U.S. and U.K.-sponsored UN sanctions against Iraq. Dr. Dhafir made the correct moral choice and undertook the obligation imposed on all American citizens by Nuremberg Principle IV, to reduce the genocidal consequences of sanctions, by open assistance of food and medicine to Iraqi children and adults via his Charity Help the Needy for 13 years.
Sixty-four people wrote to Judge Mordue asking for clemency. These include Denis Halliday and Hans Von Sponeck, both of whom resigned from the UN after long distinguished careers, because they were unwilling to implement what they considered a genocidal policy of sanctions against Iraq; Nobel Laureate Mairead Maguire; and many others across the world who appreciate Dr. Dhafir’s humanitarian outreach.
The Sentencing Guidelines range on which Dr. Dhafir’s 22-year sentence was based was erroneously increased as if he was a “third-party” (professional) money launderer, and this sets a bad legal precedent. Friday’s decision means that the case can now go back to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals where a 3-judge panel will reassess the defense’s strong legal arguments that show a 10-year sentence would be a much more appropriate one for the crimes committed.
For a comprehensive overview of how the government prosecuted this case and what it means for each of us: http://www.truth-out.org/anatomy-terrorism-prosecution/1327675715
More information at www.dhafirtrial.net
Please write a note of support to Rafil Dhafir at the address listed here.
February 14 update:
Rafil has decided to appeal the resentencing decision and as soon as Judge Mordue’s clerk files a “judgement,” his attorney, Peter Goldberger, will be able to file a Notice of Appeal. If the Appeals court agrees with Peter Golberger’s strong legal arguments for a sentence around the 10 year mark, Judge Mordue must follow its instruction. The whole process will run anywhere from nine to 18 months.
Needed: 100 people to contribute between $35 and $100 dollars each for the cost of filing the appeal. These donations will NOT be TAX-DEDUCTIBLE. Checks can be made payable to “Peter Goldberger, Attorney” and earmarked for “Dhafir Appeal.” They should be sent to:
LAW OFFICE OF PETER GOLDBERGER
50 Rittenhouse Place, Ardmore, PA 19003-2276