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INS Detainees on Hunger Strike in Passaic County
Jail

As of 3pm Tuesday January 14, 2003, seven men
detained by the US Immigration and Naturalization
Service (INS) are on a hunger strike to protest
their detention by the INS and their treatment
in the Passaic County Jail. They say that they
will continue their strike until the INS meets
with them to discuss their complaints.

The hunger strikers are demanding the release of
9/11 detainees, most of whom are not charged
with crimes but are being held in prison while
the INS attempts to deport them or resolve their
status. They are demanding improvements in
food, medical care, air quality and family visits,
a resumption of the Friday Islamic services
the prison provided until a month ago, and
separate living quarters for Muslim detainees.

Conditions at Passaic County Jail continue to
worsen.

The detainees say that the prison's food is
insufficient, unpalatable and does not provide
adequate protein and vitamins, leading to health
problems, while the medical services are limited
and slow; dental services do not go beyond the
removal of teeth. The aging ventilation system
also contributes to their health problems.

9/11 ("Special Interest') Muslim detainees demand
separate living quarters. At present, they are
experiencing xenophobia, abuse and threats from
the general prison population, which are largely
ignored by prison guards.

ACTION ALERT:

Send letters or fax to:

Andrea Quarantillo
INS District Director
INS Newark District Office
970 Broad St. Rm. 136
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: 973-645-4421
Fax: 973-645-2304

INS Detainees on Hunger Strike in Passaic County
Jail

As of 3pm Tuesday January 14, 2003, seven men
detained
by the US Immigration and Naturalization Service
(INS)
are on a hunger strike to protest their detention by
the INS and their treatment in the Passaic County
Jail. They say that they will continue their strike
until the INS meets with them to discuss their
complaints.

The hunger strikers are demanding the release of
9/11
detainees, most of whom are not charged with crimes
but are being held in prison while the INS attempts
to
deport them or resolve their status. They are
demanding improvements in food, medical care, air
quality and family visits, a resumption of the
Friday
Islamic services the prison provided until a month
ago, and separate living quarters for Muslim
detainees.

Conditions at Passaic County Jail continue to
worsen.
The detainees say that the prisonÌs food is
insufficient, unpalatable and does not provide
adequate protein and vitamins, leading to health
problems, while the medical services are limited and
slow; dental services do not go beyond the removal
of
teeth. The aging ventilation system also
contributes
to their health problems.

9/11 (ÏSpecial InterestÓ) Muslim detainees demand
separate living quarters. At present, they are
experiencing xenophobia, abuse and threats from the
general prison population, which are largely ignored
by prison guards.

The detainees want to be able to have physical
contact
visits with their families; currently they must talk
to their wives and children through a glass wall.
As
a result, many young fathers have been unable to
hold
their newborn babies.

The Campaign to Stop the Disappearances, Islamic
Circle of North America Ò Relief, and the Committee
for the Release of Farouk Abdel-Muhti express our
solidarity with the detainees on hunger strike. We
demand that Andrea J. Quarantillo - the INS District
Director of New Jersey (Ph: 973-645-4421), Jerry
Speziale, the Sheriff of Passaic County
(973-881-4619)
and Warden Charles Meyers - Passaic County Jail (Ph:
973-881-4591) be held accountable for the violation
of
detaineesÌ rights and we urge all three to meet with
the detainees and community organizations to discuss
their needs immediately.

For more information, contact DRUM (718) 205 3036