By CAIR
Photos: CAIR\Instagram\Facebook\YouTube Screenshots
(WASHINGTON, DC – 12/20/2024) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to urgently treat a medical condition that reportedly threatens the health and life of civil rights icon Imam Jamil Al-Amin, formerly known as H. Rap Brown, who has been imprisoned since 2002 for a crime he did not commit.
Imam Al-Amin has developed a large growth on his face and the Bureau of Prisons has not provided appropriate medical care, according to the imam’s family and legal counsel. He has also experienced other serious health issues in custody.
CAIR is joining Imam Al-Amin’s family in calling for the imam to be transferred from the
United States Penitentiary (USP) Tucson to Federal Medical Center (FMC) Butner for immediate medical treatment.
CAIR also called on Fulton County District Attorney Fanni Willis to expedite the Conviction Integrity Unit’s ongoing review of Al-Amin’s wrongful conviction. The real perpetrator of the crime has repeatedly and credibly confessed to the crime, under oath, and provided evidence of his responsibility. Despite this, Fulton County has not yet concluded its review, made a motion to vacate the conviction or filed charges against the real perpetrator, who is in jail for another crime.
In a statement, CAIR said:
“The Bureau of Prisons’ reported negligence is risking the health and life of Imam Jamil Al-Amin, who has spent decades in prison for a crime he did not commit. It is critically important for the Justice Department to intervene and demand proper medical treatment for Imam Al-Amin.
“It is also critical for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to expedite her office’s ongoing review of Imam Al-Amin’s wrongful conviction. The real perpetrator has repeatedly and credibly confessed to the crime, and Imam Al-Amin must be set free before his condition worsens.
“Imam Jamil Al-Amin is a wrongfully convicted and unjustly imprisoned civil rights leader who inspired countless Black Americans to embrace activism, accept Islam, and improve their communities, including in Atlanta, where the imam’s efforts cleared several city blocks of real criminals, creating a safe space for generations of families and children.”
Last year, the Georgia chapter and national office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-GA/CAIR) joined 28 other American Muslim organizations in calling on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to transfer Imam Jamil from federal custody in Arizona back to state custody in Georgia so that he can fully participate in an ongoing review of his wrongful conviction by the Fulton County District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit.
In a letter sent to the DOJ and the Bureau of Prisons, local and national American Muslim organizations also noted that the person who confessed to committing the crimes for which Imam Jamil was convicted, federal inmate Otis Jackson (also known as James Santos) has provided consistent and credible confessions under oath.
The letter was mailed on May 22 to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Assistant U.S. Attorney Civil Division for the District of Arizona Michael L. Linton. Muslim groups are requesting Imam Jamil be either transferred into the custody of the State of Georgia or, alternatively, to a federal facility located in or near Atlanta.
CLICK HERE: READ THE LETTER
Imam Jamil Al-Amin is a renowned civil rights leader who has unjustly spent decades behind bars for a crime he did not commit. Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis has directed her office’s Conviction Integrity Unit to re-examine Imam Jamil’s 2002 convictions, taking into account federal inmate Otis Jackson’s confession of the crime Imam Jamil was convicted for.
One of the key reasons for the organizations’ request for transfer is the significant geographical distance between Imam Jamil’s current incarceration facility in Tucson, Arizona, and his home and legal support network in Atlanta, Georgia.
With the Fulton County District Attorney’s office actively reviewing the case, relocating Imam Jamil to a prison closer to Atlanta would enhance communication between all parties involved in the review process. Furthermore, Imam Jamil’s family has faced significant challenges in visiting him due to the vast distance, exacerbated by the difficulties imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The letter emphasizes that the transfer aligns with federal law, specifically 18 USC Section 3621 (b), which requires the Bureau of Prisons to designate inmates to facilities as close as practicable to their primary residence, within 500 driving miles if possible.
Imam Jamil’s wrongful imprisonment has persisted despite credible confessions from Otis Jackson and extensive evidence indicating his innocence. Notably, during a December 2022 interview conducted by Imam Jamil’s legal team and attorney Aimee Maxwell of the Fulton County D.A. Conviction Integrity Unit, Jackson revealed bullet wounds on his arm, providing further corroboration of his admission that he was shot while exchanging fire with Fulton County Sheriff’s deputies.
Conversely, Imam Jamil’s was arrested without any bullet wounds, signs of injury, or evidence placing him at the crime scene. In addition to the substantial evidence of his innocence, serious constitutional violations occurred during the initial trial.
The transfer request also highlights the impact of the distance on the ongoing legal case, as Imam Jamil’s legal team, based in Atlanta, faces significant obstacles in meeting regularly with their client. Delays and difficulties in conducting hearings, including failed video conferencing attempts, have hampered the legal proceedings, hindering the pursuit of justice and exoneration.
Moreover, Imam Jamil’s health is a growing concern, as the 79-year-old suffers from various medical ailments that require timely and adequate attention.
USP Tucson has demonstrated an intentional failure to provide necessary medical care, including cataract surgery, leaving him unnecessarily blind for an extended period. Given his medical conditions and the potential final years of his life, it is imperative that Imam Jamil be closer to his family and receive the medical care he urgently needs.
The 30 state and national Muslim organizations emphasized in their letter the urgency of transferring Imam Jamil Al-Amin to a facility near Atlanta or returning him to state custody, allowing him to be closer to his family and providing a medium security institution suitable for his security designation.
