Reno Blocks Release of Palestinian Jailed for 3 Years Without Charges

Atty. Gen. Janet Reno blocked the release Tuesday of a Palestinian who has been jailed on secret evidence for three years without charges.

She held up the release of Mazen Al-Najjar until at least Friday, saying she wanted to “personally review the appropriateness” of allowing him to go free.

The government maintains that Al-Najjar, a 43-year-old academic, had links to Mideast terrorists and was a threat to national security. Al-Najjar has denied any ties to terrorists. Not even his lawyers have seen the evidence against him.

“I am disappointed that, after more than 3 1/2 years of reviewing my case, Janet Reno says she needs more time to review it,” Al-Najjar said through his attorney, Martin Schwartz.

Reno’s order came shortly after 9 a.m. EST as his family waited with an $8,000 check to post bail and secure his release. With Al-Najjar’s wife, Fedaa, were his three daughters: Yara, 12, Sarah, 10, and Safa, 5.

Last week, U.S. Immigration Judge R. Kevin McHugh ordered Al-Najjar’s release, saying the government had failed to give the man enough information to defend himself. The Board of Immigration Appeal stopped the release, then lifted its own order Monday.