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Devereaux Cannick responds to NY Governor Pataki When two Albany NY Muslims were arrested on August 5, 2004 and charged with terrorism New York State Governor Pataki remarked about the arrest of DrDhafir. ""[M]oney-laundering scheme in Syracuse'' as other examples of terrorists among us and of people "who want to do horrible acts against the people of America.'' (Source; 'FBI raids local mosque Imam and another leader of mosque on Albany's Central Avenue arrested in connection with a money-laundering scheme involving a shoulder-fired missile', By BRENDAN LYONS and PAUL GRONDAHL, Albany Times Union, August 5, 2004 Statement issued by Devereaux Cannick in response to Governor Pataki's statement at his press conference in Albany today regarding the arrest of two Muslims allegedly involved in terror. "I am extremely disappointed in the statement attributed to Governor Pataki regarding Dr. Dhafir's Case. His comments are highly inflammatory and wholly irresponsible. Clearly the governor is unaware of the facts of Dr. Dhafir's case. His indictment has been pending for well over a year and a half. You would think that he, or his staff would check the facts before making statements that suggest that Dr. Dhafir's case, or Dr. Dhafir himself has any involvement with terrorism. But if trying to feed hungry people and provide aid to dying children makes him a terrorist, then so be it." "When you have the governor of the state and other officials making such irresponsible statements we have very little confidence that we can find any jurors in the entire state that have not been affected by this continuous and 'willful' taint." |