wfn.org | A Victory in Effort to Prevent Hasan Family's Deportation

["Carol Fouke" <cfouke@ncccusa.org>]

For Immediate Release

NCC Celebrates a Victory in Campaign to Prevent Hasan Family's Unjust
Deportation

July 8, 2004, Washington, D.C. -- A national effort supported by the National
Council of Churches USA and other faith groups to fight the deportation of
the late Waqar Hasan's family won a major victory this week when the U.S.
House of Representatives passed a private relief bill (H.R. 867) that would
give Mr. Hasan-s wife, Duri, and four daughters -- Nida, Iqra, Asna and Anum
Hasan -- permanent residency in the United States. 

Waqar Hasan, who was from Pakistan but lived in Milltown, New Jersey, was
killed in a hate crime four days after 9/11 simply because he was Muslim and
looked Middle Eastern. Since his death, Mr. Hasan's family has been faced
with deportation because their visas and green card applications were
dependent upon his visa. Rep. Rush Holt (NJ) introduced the private relief
bill, which will now go to the U.S. Senate for consideration and then to
President Bush.

According to Rep. Holt, "I believe that there is no more crucial time to
demonstrate to Muslims in America and around the world that we are a tolerant
and sympathetic people. We must seize opportunities to showcase America's
commitment to the democratic values that we are making great sacrifices to
promote overseas."

Mr. Hasan came to the U.S. 1993 and settled in New Jersey where he ran some
gas stations in the area. He had already filed a petition with the INS for
green cards for himself and his family when he was shot in Dallas, Texas,
while trying to establish a convenience store. Mark Anthony Stroman said that
he killed Mr. Hasan to "retaliate on local Arab Americans or whatever you
want to call them." Prominent Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders including
NCC General Secretary Bob Edgar, United Methodist Bishop Melvin Talbert, and
Thomas Jeavons, General Secretary of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the
Religious Society of Friends, joined together, along with other individuals
and groups, to support the effort to stop the deportation of the Hasan
family. 

"We are delighted that the House of Representatives recognizes that
deportation of the Hasan family would be a grave injustice," said Dr. Tony
Kireopoulos, NCC Associate General Secretary of International Affairs and
Peace. "We look forward to the Senate and President Bush responding in
similar fashion to make sure this family's tragedy isn't compounded by their
dreams of a new life being cut short."

-end-

NCC Media Contact: 202-544-2350 x 11; ltune@ncccusa.org 

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