Protesters picket Rep. Cox office

Lolita Harper

NEWPORT BEACH -- Family members, colleagues and general supporters of

a doctor being held in an Israeli prison gathered outside Rep. Chris

Cox’s office Thursday, demanding local politicians fight for his release.

About 35 people carried picket signs, American flags and pictures of

Anaheim doctor Riad Abdelkarim -- who was detained by Israeli authorities

12 days ago -- outside the Newport Beach Republican’s local office to

pressure the politician to lobby for his release. Cox represents

Abdelkarim, who lives in Orange Hills.

“We are here in hopes that the congressman will help move to apply

pressure on the government to work for my brother’s safe release,” said

brother, and fellow doctor, Basim Abdelkarim. “He is an American detained

illegally, and [Cox] should be doing more to protect him.”

Cox was in his Washington, D.C., office Thursday and did not return

calls.

Abdelkarim was on a medical relief mission in the West Bank, providing

medical care to Palestinians, when he was detained by Israeli officials,

his 31-year-old brother said.

“He has not even been formally charged with any crime,” Basim

Abdelkarim said. “It is an absolute outrage.”

Israeli newspapers reported Wednesday that Abdelkarim was detained on

suspicion of funding “terror attacks” by a Hamas militant organization

through a U.S. charity.

Supporters who congregated in Newport Beach vigorously denied the

accusations, saying Abdelkarim was certainly outspoken about perceived

injustice but focused his efforts on humanitarian actions -- not terror.

Newport Beach resident Jane McMillan, who worked with Abdelkarim at

Kaiser Permanente in Anaheim, said her colleague was a “good man” and not

a terrorist. The doctor said she was raised Catholic and often overlooked

the struggles in the Mideast -- until it hit home.

“The thought of someone I know, sitting in a jail cell alone and

possibly hurt . . .” McMillan said, her words trailing off as she wiped

away tears. “I know he is Muslim, but to me, he was over there fulfilling

the same Christian principles that I remember from the Bible.”

Especially critical of “terrorist” allegations was Dallas charity

worker Dalell Mohmed, who was also detained by Israeli authorities but

released this week. Mohmed said she came to Newport Beach at her own

expense to show her support for her fellow humanitarian.

“I always feel guilty that I can go while others are forced to stay,”

she said.

Mohmed, 47, said she went to Israel to set up a charity for

Palestinian children, KinderUSA.

She was drinking a cup of tea in her East Jerusalem hotel, looking out

over the most beautiful view in the world, when she was taken into

custody at gunpoint, Mohmed said.

“I still don’t know why I was arrested,” Mohmed said.

She was held in solitary confinement, in a rat-infested cell, for 10

days and treated worse than any other prisoners, she said. The guards

would punish other inmates who offered her water or conversation, she

said.

Mohmed met with Cox’s local representatives in the Newport Beach

office and reported to fellow demonstrators that he had been “fully

briefed . . . on every aspect of the case.” She told the group to expect

public support from Cox if Abdelkarim is not released by Sunday.

They kissed, hugged and blessed her, praising God for her safe return

and hoping the same for Abdelkarim.

But the feelings of gratefulness quickly turned to a need for answers,

and the urgency of the questions unearthed scathing criticisms of

government officials.

Group leader Salam Al-Marayati, the national director of the Muslim

Public Affairs Council, contrasted Abdelkarim’s case with that of a young

American teenager convicted of vandalism in Singapore and whom the U.S.

government protected from a public caning.

“He was convicted of a crime, and still U.S. officials fought to

protect him,” Al-Marayati said. “But Riad has yet to be charged with a

crime, and government officials stand by. He is an American, and we want

our local officials to stand up for him. We want his representative,

Christopher Cox, to stand up for him.”

While lobbying elected officials who are capable of bringing

Abdelkarim home, demonstrators also hope to bring the issue to the

attention of the public.

“We just want to raise awareness and appeal to the hearts of all

Americans who care about freedom and have a heart for humanity,”

Al-Marayati said.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .