After he was given a sentence of up to 18 months for refusing to testify before a grand jury in a separate case, Al-Arian began his first hunger strike. His attorneys say an earlier plea agreement freed him from further testifying.
Civil rights groups also say the government's actions amount to a form of harassment.
On June 25, 2008, Dr. Sami al-Arian was indicted on two counts of criminal contempt for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury. The indictment alleges that al-Arian knowingly disobeyed a judge's order to testify before the grand jury. Al-Arian has said that terms of his plea agreement of May 2006 exempt him from testifying, but two judges have rejected his plea.
A trial on the criminal contempt charges is set for August 13. The law sets no specific penalty for a conviction. In theory, Al-Arian could face life in prison, or even the death penalty.
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