Hungry For Justice Coalition Calls for Probe on Government Misconduct  

DALLAS, July 11 /XpressPress/ -- Hungry for Justice, a coalition of national and regional civil rights and interfaith organizations, calls on the Department of Justice to investigate jury manipulation and prejudicial misconduct by the prosecution during the first Holy Land Foundation trial.

On May 30, 2008, according to a motion filed by defense attorneys, the prosecutors illegally delivered over 100 pages of documents known as demonstrative exhibits (or propaganda) to the jury to be considered as factual evidence during their deliberations. Several of these documents include exhibits which were never seen or admitted by the court. In fact, they were never seen or examined by defense attorneys.

According to Khalil Meek president of MLFA, this gross misconduct occurred even though the prosecution was repeatedly instructed by the court to give only court admitted evidence to the jurors for deliberations. The demonstrative exhibits are theories that the prosecution created to illustrate their assumption of guilt and can only be used in their arguments as visual aids during the trial. These highly prejudicial exhibits are "never" allowed to be used by jurors as factual evidence during deliberations.

Despite a jury note during the first week of deliberations, which suggested the existence of such illegal material in the jury room, the government assured the court that no barred material was given to the jury. The judge then instructed the jury to consider every item found in the jury room as admitted evidence.

"The government illegally induced this jury to consider opinions, propaganda, and wishful theory as factual evidence. And, according to a sworn affidavit submitted by the jury's foreperson, the jurors who favored conviction used these illegal documents as their primary line of reasoning," stated Khalil Meek, Hungry for Justice spokesperson.

"The citizens' demand that the prosecutors be held accountable for their gross violation of law must be taken seriously. We demand a thorough investigation into this matter and swift action thereafter. This unethical behavior of the government can't be tolerated," said Hadi Jawad, Hungry for Justice member.

Formed in April 2007, Hungry for Justice is an adhoc committee that organizes local and national support insuring the right of these American Citizens to a fair and impartial trial. It adheres to non-violent principles and affirms the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

SOURCE: Hungry for Justice

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