Syrian's asylum hopes lifted in appeals court

[icymist]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/166921_hamoui30.html

Tuesday, March 30, 2004

Syrian's asylum hopes lifted in appeals court
3-judge panel rips handling of case by Justice Department

By CHRIS McGANN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

After more than a decade of failed bids for political asylum, a heartbreaking revelation that his lawyer failed him and 10 months behind bars, an Edmonds grocer got a ray of hope yesterday.

During a hearing in Seattle before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the harsh skepticism long focused on Safouh Hamoui -- a former Syrian pilot who came to this country in 1992 -- suddenly shifted to the government.

The three-judge panel blasted the Justice Department's handling of the immigration case and openly supported key contentions being raised by Hamoui's new lawyers.

<snip>

Asked later how he felt about his battle to free himself from Attorney General John Ashcroft's post-9/11 initiative to round up and deport illegal immigrants, particularly those from Middle Eastern countries, Hamoui took the high road. "I still believe in America. I still believe in justice, and I still believe justice will prevail," he said. "And I hope today is that day."

<snip>

"In fact, based on Mr. Hamoui's career as a pilot for the president of Syria and other high-level government officials, there is no question in my mind that if sent back to Syria, it is 'more likely than not' that Mr. Hamoui as well as his family will be detained and tortured, if not killed."


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