ARIZONA MUSLIMS TO SUPPORT TEMPE DOC DENIED RE-ENTRY TO U.S 

(PHOENIX, AZ, 01/25/06) - On Friday, January 27, the Arizona office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ), the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA), the Muslim American Society (MAS) and the Imams Council of Arizona will hold a news conference in Tempe to urge that immigration authorities reconsider their decision to deny the re-entry of a Muslim physician to the U.S. 

WHAT: Arizona Muslims Express Support for Deported Physician

WHEN: Friday, January 27, Noon

WHERE: Islamic Community Center of Tempe, 131 East 6th Street, Tempe, Arizona  

Many Arizona Muslims have expressed concern over the recent denial of re-entry of Dr. Nadeem Hassan, after he and his wife returned from the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Immigration authorities rejected Dr.Hassan's green-card application and revoked his travel permit, in part because of his role in an Islamic group that community members say has a history of peaceful religious activities. 

SEE: Ariz. Doctor Can't Return, U.S. Says http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0120hassan20.html 

"The Muslim community wants to know why our government did not allow Dr. Hassan to defend himself against these allegations before an immigration judge," said CAIR-AZ Communications Director Nure Elatari. "This case has civil liberties implications for all American Muslims”.  

CONTACT: CAIR-AZ Communications Director, Nure Elatari, 602-312-2223, Email: director@cairaz.org