Fahad Hashmi (an American Muslim) was studying in the UK for a master's degree. Due to the dubious testimony of supergrass Junaid Barber, Fahad was arrested at Heathrow airport on 6th June 2006 on terrorism charges. He spent 11 months as a category A prisoner in HMP Belmarsh before being extradited to the US in May 2007. Fahad is currently being held in solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Correction Center in Manhattan, NYC. Omar Khyam has written the following account for al-istiqamah of his memories of Fahad whilst they were at Belmarsh together.

Click to view the original letter: page 1, page 2, page 3

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, Most Gracious

All praises are for Allah alone, and may peace and blessings be upon the best of creation, Muhammad (S.A.W.)

Assalamu 'Alaykum,

As the number of Muslims imprisoned under various anti-terrorism legislation increases, it's easy to forget those who may not have had their cases high-lighted either by the mainstream media or by various Muslim organisations.

One such case is of a brother I met while I was in Belmarsh prison, called Fahad Hashmi. As far as I could gauge, he was a student, studying for his master's degree at a London-based university. He was no different from the many other practicing brothers one meets during university life, in so far as that he had a beard, attended Islamic lectures and is passionate about his faith.

His story began like countless others. One morning, his flat was raided, searched and subsequently he was arrested and questioned. When no evidence was found to charge him in this country, in stepped the Americans! He was indicted in America and an extradition warrant was put out on his name.

After spending some time in Belmarsh, he was extradited to America last year and is currently being held in the state of New York. He is being held in a facility which is completely sound-proof and he has no interaction with any other human. It's only recently that I came to know that brother Fahad Hashmi has started to 'lose it'.

Subhan-Allah, this is a brother whose qualities are too numerous to mention. He was one of those brothers who would walk around with a smile on his face day-in, day-out. When some brothers would feel down or stressed-out due to being separated from loved ones, or the situation of their individual cases was not going well, you would always see brother Fahad Hashmi speaking to them, encouraging them to be patient and steadfast, explaining to them that they should always think good of Allah and not allow shaytan (satan) to over-take and control one's emotions. But rather, one should be content with the decree of Allah, to acknowledge what has come about would never have missed you.

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