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Efforts to bring some relief and care to Imam Jamil Al-Amin picked up with a protest outside of the Justice Department planned for June 9. Supporters of the longtime freedom fighter and respected Muslim leader remain concerned about his health and a lack of medical attention given by prison authorities.
Formerly known as H. Rap Brown of the Black Panther Party and Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee in the 1960s and 1970s, Imam Al-Amin accepted Islam in the 1970s and was a force for good in the West End section of Atlanta. Since 2007, Imam Al-Amin has been incarcerated in ADX Florence Supermax prison in Florence, Colo. He was found guilty of murder in a controversial verdict and his supporters say the freedom fighter was again targeted. He was found guilty of suddenly opening fire on two Black deputies who had come to serve him a subpoena. One of the men died. The imam was moved to the maximum security prison in Colorado, away from supporters, family and loved ones, because authorities decided he was too high profile to stay in prison in Georgia.
In early May, news that the imam was suffering from a painful abscess and had been waiting for almost a year to see a doctor surfaced. El-Hajj Mauri’ Saalakhan of the Peace Thru Justice Foundation reported, “There is a sign of progress but Imam Jamil’s condition is still dire and in need of advocacy.”
According to advocate Saalakhan, “a dentist finally removed a broken tooth of Imam Jamil at its root and gave him antibiotics, but he still has not seen a physician. He has not been able to eat and the dentist has agreed that the abscess (one on each side) caused damage, i.e., his inability to breathe and the total shut down of his body. He is only able to get out of bed a few times a day, and he has not been strong enough to get any exercise. In fact, he is stating that he is having difficulty walking.”
He added, an x-ray was taken but the results are still unknown and Imam Al-Amin’s feet (top and bottom) are swollen and a medical aide talked to him through the cell door in lieu of a medical examination. Imam Al-Amin “is over 70 years old and needs emergency medical care without delay, in accordance with federal prison standards. His life is at risk,” warned Mr. Salaakhan.
Supporters and defenders of Imam Al-Amin want federal authorities to act now regarding three things:
(1) immediate medical attention for Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (Reg.# 99974-555); (2) his transfer to a different facility where his medical needs are more assured of being met, such as the prison medical facility located in Butner, N.C.; (3) a review of imprisonment policies relevant to the prisoners being housed under extraordinary conditions, such as the Supermax in Florence, Colorado and the so-called “Controlled Management Units” (CMUs) in different areas of the country.
We need to join this campaign and this call to support a man who has stood for us and a freedom fighter his supporters say was targeted by the authorities and is innocent of the murder charge. Take a minute and call Charles E. Samuels Jr., director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons at 202-307-3198; and Lisa Gregory, Director of Health Services, North Central Region 913-621-3939. Tell anyone who answers the telephone that you are calling regarding Jamil Al-Amin (#99974-555) with concerns regarding his deteriorating health condition and the fact that he is not receiving the adequate medical attention that is his right. We cannot sit idly by and do nothing, we have an obligation to support those who have stood and supported us. We must also pray for Imam Al-Amin and ask Almighty God Allah to protect and heal him while we work to as hard as we can to make those prayers a reality.
