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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

Date:	27 October 2006
Case Number:	us0610_pah
Victim:	Adam Habib
Country:	United States
Subject:	Political Scientist denied entry into United States
Issues:	Freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention; Freedom of association and assembly; Right to travel
Type of alert:	New

FACTS OF THE CASE:

On October 21st, Professor Adam Habib, Executive Director of the Democracy and Governance Research Programme of the Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa, attempted to enter the United States via JFK International Airport in order to meet with officers from multiple organizations, including the Social Science Research Council, Columbia University, the National Institutes of Health, the World Bank, the Carnegie Foundation, and the Gates Foundation.

At that airport, Professor Habib was escorted to a holding room and questioned by U.S. border agents on his views on terrorism. He was detained for seven hours, his existing visa was revoked, and he was subsequently deported to South Africa - an armed guard escorted him to his return flight to Joahannesburg. No explanation of the reason that his visa was revoked was given by the U.S. Government.

Professor Adam Habib obtained his Ph.D. in Political Science in the United States, from the City University of New York. Since September 11th, 2001, he has visited the United States six times without incident. Professor Habib has already accepted an invitation to speak at a 2007 meeting sponsored by the American Sociological Association, to be held in New York City, but no longer has a valid visa to enter the United States.

(Sources include the Washington Post, the Human Sciences Resource Council Media Relations Department, and correspondence of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP).)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

American Convention on Human Rights

• Article 16: Everyone has the right to freedom of association.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Article 09: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
• Article 20(1): Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

• Expressing concern about the revocation of the valid entry visa of Professor Habib, who was seeking to engage in legitimate professional activities in the U.S.;
• Noting that Professor Habib had entered the U.S. multiple times previously without incident; and
• Respectfully reminding the U.S. government that the scientific endeavor is dependent on the freedom of association, expression, information, communication, and movement.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
Department of State
2201 C Street , NW
Washington DC 20520
email via webform:
http://contact-us.state.gov/cgi-bin/state.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php?p_sid=uMxC5h3i&p_lva=&p_sp=&p_li=
Fax: (202) 647-4000 (TEL)
secretary@state.gov
Salutation: Dear Madame Secretary

Mr. Michael Chertoff
Secretary of Homeland Security
Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528
Fax: 202-282-8000
Salutation: Dear Mr. Secretary

Mr. Thomas A. Shannon, Jr.
Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
Department of State, Room 6262
2201 C St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
Salutation: Dear Mr. Assistant Secretary

Ms. Maura Harty
Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Department of State, Room 6811
2201 C St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
Salutation: Dear Ms. Assistant Secretary

COPIES SENT TO:

Ms. Ina van der Linde
Media Relations
Human Sciences Research Council
Private Bag X41
Pretoria
South Africa 0001
Salutation: Dear Ms. van der Linde

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Jana Asher, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6604; email jasher@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

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