10 Herbert Road

Chelmsford, MA 01824

4/4/2005

His Excellency the Honorable George W. Bush,

President of the United States of America

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I am writing on behalf of my brother Fathi Eljahmi whom you were gracious enough to cite in a speech on March 12, 2004. 

As you may know, Fathi has been detained since March 26, 2004. According to a just-released medical report from Physician for Human Rights (PHR), Fathi is at risk of dying because he is being deprived of adequate medical care.

It is clear to me that the Gadhafi regime has, in effect, sentenced Fathi to death -- through imprisonment and deprivation.

Fathi understands this better than anyone. He has said that he is "ready to die for the liberty of the Libyan people." That is a noble sentiment, one that you -- as a man of faith -- can appreciate. But, as you also would be the first to recognize, it would be so much better were he to live for the liberty of the Libyan people instead.

As grateful as I am for your words in support of Fathi, I do not believe the US government has done all it could to press for his release over the past year.

Mr. President, Fathi has heard your words and he appreciates them. The interpreter that acinfopanied the medical team from PHR said that, Fathi explicitly expressed his admiration for you. He believes you are a great statesman whose bold leadership may yet bring freedom, human rights and democracy to the troubled Middle East.

But if Gadhafi kills Fathi, if Fathi dies in prison for the crime of speaking out for liberty, while the American government does nothing and says nothing, it would be both a tragedy and a setback for the causes you are championing.

I hope and pray you won't allow that to happen.

Sincerely,

Mohamed Eljahmi

Co-Founder, Director of infomunications and Secretary

American Libyan Freedom Alliance (ALFA)