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- MEDIA ADVISORY -

CAIR: Calif. Muslim on No-Fly List to Return to U.S. 
Ali Ahmed scheduled to arrive Monday at San Diego International Airport

(SAN DIEGO, CA, 7/8/12) –- On Monday, July 9, representatives of the San Diego chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-San Diego) will meet a local Muslim who has been stranded overseas after being placed on the no-fly list when he arrives at San Diego International Airport.

Ali Ahmed, a U.S. citizen of Somali heritage, is scheduled to travel on United Airlines flight 229, due to arrive at 10:25 a.m. on Monday. He was stranded in Bahrain after being denied boarding on flights back to the United States.

SEE: No-Fly List Grounds Another San Diegan (U-T San Diego)
Video: CAIR Works to Help Calif. Muslim on No-Fly List Return Home

WHAT: CAIR-San Diego Reps to Meet Muslim Stranded in Bahrain by No-Fly List
WHEN: Monday, July 9, Following Scheduled 10:25 a.m. (Pacific) Arrival
WHERE: San Diego International Airport (Contact CAIR-San Diego for exact location.)
CONTACT: CAIR-San Diego Executive Director Hanif Mohebi, 858-774-9991, E-mail:hmohebi@cair.com; CAIR Staff Attorney Gadeir Abbas, 202-742-6410, 720-251-0425, E-mail: gabbas@cair.com

Last week, CAIR sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in which the civil rights group's attorney wrote: "[Ali Ahmed's] placement on the No-Fly List without due process of law, and his corresponding inability to fly back home to the United States, constitute grave violations of his civil rights and liberties."

Last month, CAIR advocated on behalf of a San Diego Muslim citizen stranded in Costa Rica after being placed on the no-fly list. The man was later allowed to re-enter the United States by land through the Mexican border.

SEE: Student Takes Long Way Home After 'No-Fly' Designation (MSNBC)

Earlier this year, CAIR called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate acts of "coercion and intimidation" allegedly used by the FBI to pressure Muslim citizens into giving up their constitutional rights if they wished to return to the United States from overseas.

SEE: CAIR Seeks Probe of Whether FBI Sought Torture of U.S. Muslim
CAIR Asks DOJ to Probe Oregon FBI's 'Coercion' of Muslim Citizens
Video: CAIR Says Portland FBI is Coercing Muslims to Give Up Rights

Last year, CAIR filed a lawsuit against the DOJ and the FBI seeking a court order to allow a Virginia Muslim teenager who had been detained in Kuwait and placed on a U.S. government no-fly list to return to the United States.

CAIR: Va. Muslim on No-Fly List Returning to U.S.

CAIR has assisted a number of other American Muslim citizens who have been stranded overseas by government actions.

CAIR: Embassy Returns Passport to U.S. Muslim Stuck in Kuwait
CAIR Video: FBI Prevents Va. Muslim from Returning to U.S.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.