As Siddique Abdullah Hasan prepared answers for this interview
from his supermaximum security cell block, in Youngstown, Ohio,
news broke that Philadelphia courts had agreed to hear arguments
from Mumia Abu-Jamal's legal council. Abu-Jamal's lawyers argue
that the outcome of Mumia's 1982 trial and later appeal were
tainted by constitutional violations. Few can empathize with the
former Black Panther as well as Hasan, a respected Sunni Muslim prison
Imam who has been sentenced to death for his alleged leadership in the
1993 Lucasville prison rebellion. Hasan maintains his innocence and is
appealing his case. After hearing of Mumia's good news, he wrote that
it "brought tears of joy to my heart, because I immediately recognized it
was a positive development which could ultimately lead to his long-overdue
release from captivity."
Hasan is the founding editor of Compassion, a newsletter to develop
healing communication between capital punishment offenders and
murdered victims' families. He also co-edits the newly founded Internet
portal,
www.prisonersolidarity.org. In the current interview, S.A. Hasan
discusses the impact of the Ohio death row's recent move from Mansfield
to Youngstown, and the "travesty of injustice" that he and four other
men who were sentenced to death following the Lucasville riots (and
therafter housed in permanent solitary confinement at the newly-
constructed OSP), have continued to endure.
STURM: Why did you change your name from Carlos Sanders to Siddique
Abdullah Hasan, and what does your Islamic name mean?
HASAN: An Islamic name identifies who you are, and it exercises good moral
influence and divine blessings on the person bearing the name. I opted to
change my name to Siddique Abdullah Hasan because I wanted it to identify
who I had become: a Muslim. As for the name itself, I chose this particular
combination because it reflected the person and character I had become,
and/or was diligently striving to become in both words and deeds. To
understand this statement one has to understand the meaning of the Islamic
name.
My forename is Siddique (pronounced Sid-deek). It means one who is
"just, true, sincere, a sincere friend, a man of veracity." Abdullah means
"a servant or devotee of Allah" -- the Unimaginable Supreme Being Who
exists necessarily by Himself. As long as one fulfills the will of Allah, he
will be a servant or devotee of Allah. My surname, Hasan, means "beautiful,
excellent, fine, good and pious." I chose Hasan because of the internal
beauty and goodness I knew I possessed. When you combine them,
my name means "a true servant of Allah (who is) beautiful and good." And,
while I'm not sure that I will ever be able to live up to the profound essence
of my name, I regularly meditate upon its beauty in the hope that it will make
me strive that much harder to become a better person/servant.
STURM: A few months ago I asked about your perspective on the anticipated
move of death row from Mansfield to Youngstown. Now that the move has
taken place, how does it relate to your expectations? How has the move
impacted your situation and the situation of other prisoners?
HASAN: In truth, I had no expectations. When you asked me, I was actually
expressing the popular views and beliefs of others. From day one, the prison
authorities made it perfectly clear to me, in both actions and words, that
we [the current prisoners] had nothing positive coming unless the courts
intervened and compelled them to implement our constitutional rights -- such
as the right to outdoor recreation, proper medical and mental health care,
better access to our attorneys, a meaningful hearing to appeal being released
from here -- and make life more bearable for those under their jurisdiction
and control. The bottom line is that the prison authorities are very resentful
toward many prisoners at Ohio State Penitentiary (OSP), especially the
Lucasville Five (actually four, for George W. Skatzes was transferred
back to Mansfield years ago due to mental health reasons).
Anyway, when the Lucasville Five (the others are Namir Abdul-Mateen,
Keith Lamar, Jason Robb and myself) arrived here from Mansfield in May
1998, we were removed from administrative control status, which is basically
the equivalent to administrative segregation, and assigned to general
population status. Yet, our conditions and treatment never changed. As a
result we have requested being transferred back to Mansfield. However,
our requests were rebuffed for alleged security reasons. Namely, Mansfield
did not have a proper area to accommodate us. But now that Mansfield
death-row inmates have been moved to OSP, we [the four death-row
inmates housed at OSP since 1993] are not afforded the same rights,
privileges and accommodations.
Take, for example, death-row inmates' access to a private room to
meet with their attorneys; their right to possess individual typewriters to
assist with the appeal process; and their right to semi-contact visits with
family and friends; their right to better commissary services, phone,
recreation, and books. They even have access to meet with the media,
while we cannot. Director Reginald Wilkinson has made it perfectly
clear that "no one convicted of a riot-related offense can meet with the
media." It doesn't take a genius to figure out why, nor to see that he's
being vindictive. It is obvious that Director Wilkinson has a personal
vendetta due to the Lucasville rebellion happening on his watch.
Therefore, he has opted to keep us under punitive conditions, and his
subordinates are obeying all his vindictive wishes and commands.
While I can somewhat understand his justification for not allowing us to be
placed in the same housing area with the new death-row arrivals, there is no
valid penological or security reason why we shouldn't be afforded the same
rights and privileges as those similarly situated--those under a death
sentence--especially when they don't pose a security threat to OSP and its
staff. After all, we are all death-row prisoners on general population
status. Well, so they claim.
STURM: Have there been significant changes in staff? Do you get more
or less outdoor recreation time?
HASAN: There have been no significant changes in staff. What has happened,
though, is that a lot of guards have been getting a lot of overtime hours,
which means a lot of time-and-a-half pay is being dished out. Also, some
guards have voluntarily departed the blocks they were working in to work in
the death-row blocks. Since death row prisoners have more supervisory
privileges -- the privilege to feed themselves and not to be escorted to and
from recreation in handcuffs -- it's easy to figure out why most of them
departed. The transformation was apparent. Going from the ghettos to the
suburbs entails less work. Outdoor recreation has not changed at this
juncture. Everyone is still granted the opportunity to get five hours per
week. However, it's anticipated that when spring and summer roll back
around we will not receive the five-hour allotment because there will not be
enough time to run everyone. Death row arrived during the middle of the fall
and many people have not been going outdoors, so outdoor recreation has
not posed a problem yet. But this will all change when the weather gets better.
STURM: How has the departure of Dr. Ayham Haddad affected the medical care
at OSP? How long do you have to wait to see a doctor?
HASAN: When Dr. Haddad was employed here, he would promptly diagnose
prisoners after they were initially seen and recommended by a nurse. He was
very concerned, respectful and professional with all his patients, just like
a doctor in society would be. He would even timely answer prisoners'
correspondence which came in the form of a kite (an inter-communication
system between a prisoner and a staff). This is not the case with the
current doctors, however. Not only are these doctors not promptly diagnosing
prisoners or communicating with them, they are also not communicating among
themselves. Prisoners' medical concerns and needs are usually getting lost
in the shuffle.
If prisoners have a genuine medical problem that requires immediate
attention, they are now not provided it until weeks later. Another problem
with current medical care is that prisoners have been either removed from
receiving their medication, or their medication has been altered without
them being diagnosed by the new doctors. A case in point: Prisoner Printess
Williams had high blood pressure and was getting a large milligrams (100)
dosage to reduce and stabilize his blood pressure. Under Dr. Haddad's
supervision this prisoner's blood pressure was reduced significantly. He
was taking only 25 milligrams per day and was on the verge of being taken
off his medication completely. However, upon the arrival of the new
doctors, they increased his dosage to 50 milligrams without even diagnosing
him.
Knowing that Dr. Haddad provided excellent medical care, many prisoners
cannot understand why he was fired. But based on my inquiries to certain
staff who wish to remain anonymous, Dr. Haddad was fired because he was
"spending too much money on prisoners' medical care" and "would not falsify
medical records when prisoners were unjustifiable assaulted by guards." As a
result of his non-compliance, the prison authorities hired a few "good old
lap puppies" to attend to prisoners medical concerns and needs. Such hiring
practice is a typical trend in Ohio and throughout the U.S. penal system.
STURM: In a recent Monthly Review editorial you agreed with Malcolm X's
statement that: "I have no mercy or compassion in me for a society that
crush[es] people and penalize them for not being able to stand up under the
weight." Yet, you are also the founder of the newsletter, Compassion. Can
you elaborate and explain your position?
HASAN: Compassion is a vehicle that was launched to establish
compassion for human beings, not to defend corrupt and immoral
institutions. In particular, it was established to foster reconciliation
between prisoners and the immediate family members of murdered
victims. However, the work we do at Compassion goes beyond this.
Whether one is a secondary victim or not, in my day-to-day life I still
exhibit compassion, concern and understanding for others. But make
no mistake about it, under no circumstance will I condone corrupt
institutions and regimes -- the same institutions and regimes that I, and
many others, have been victimized by. As long as the words of my
mouth have power, and my pen has ink, I will continue to speak out
against racism, classism, oppression, persecution, poverty, exploitation,
induced failure, cultural and religious deprivation, and the other problems
which are affecting humanity.
STURM: In November several hundred Youngstown residents attended the
theater play, "The Exonerated," which tells the story of several wrongfully
convicted people who were later exonerated. What can people outside of the
prison walls do to "fix" the justice system?
HASAN: The problems within our criminal (in)justice system are too numerous
and widespread for any individual to tackle alone. Therefore, my advice
would be for concerned people to either join or collaborate with one of the
established groups working to fix the justice system. There is indeed
strength in numbers, and I am a firm believer that an organizational base is
the most effective platform from which to operate. Let us not forget that
in a democratic society the numerical majority wins, rules and decides. I am
also a firm believer that some parts of our criminal (in)justice system can
be fixed while other parts of it need to be abolished. Therefore, in order
for people outside of the prison walls to "fix" the justice system, they
have to set aside their political and theoretical differences and unify
their efforts to either reform or abolish the broken justice system. In
short, they have to decide what is in the best interest of our civilization.
One such group that is entrenched in abolishing a corrupt segment of the
justice system is, the Campaign to End the Death Penalty (CEDP). While other
groups focus on lobbying politicians and filing lawsuits to end the death
penalty, this group's objective is to end capital punishment by mobilizing
opposition to it from the grass roots up. The CEDP believes that progressive
change happens when large numbers of people organize themselves and demand
change from their leaders. This group has been making a lot of demands and
has been achieving a lot of positive benefits.
People desiring to know more about this progressive group, or wishing to see
a chapter of it established in their respective city, can log on to its
website or can contact them at:
P.O. Box 25730
Chicago, Illinois 60625
Phone: (312) 409-7145
Website:
http://www.nodeathpenalty.org
E-mail:
marlene@nodeathpenalty.org
STURM: You were an influential Imam (prayer leader) at the Southern Ohio
Correctional Facility (S.O.C.F.) in Lucasville. Do fellow prisoners at OSP
and elsewhere contact you to provide religious advice?
HASAN: Yes, they do contact me seeking both advice and Islamic teachings.
Despite being inundated with other obligations and responsibilities, I still
manage to provide them with advice, spiritual teachings, as well as moral
purification and development. In the event that I'm unable to answer their
questions and/or concerns, I will then forward them to my spiritual teacher
and guide, Shaikh Ahmad Sadiq Desai, a fully qualified Islamic theologian
and Ameer (President) of the Islamic Council of Theologians known as the
Mujlisul-Ulama of South Africa, for his guidance and rulings.
STURM: An important point of debate during the federal court hearings was
the lack of attorney-client privacy at the OSP, especially for death-row
clients. Do you think the prison administration affords enough privacy
during meetings with your attorneys? (Can you give specific examples?) Could
you describe a typical meeting with an attorney?
HASAN: No, the prison administration does not afford enough privacy for me,
or other prisoners, during attorneys' visits. Unfortunately, I am compelled
to meet with my attorneys in a non-soundproof booth surrounded by Plexiglas
windows. And though this booth is designated for only attorneys' visits,
other prisoners and their families can see you talking to your attorneys;
and those close by, in separate booths, can actually hear your conversation
if they listen closely.
There are only two booths for attorneys at OSP, one on each side of the
visiting room, and if there are several prisoners visiting with their
attorneys on the same day, then the other attorneys will have to meet their
clients in the booths designated for regular visitors. In these regular
booths, prisoners as well as their families can clearly hear one another's
conversations. My lead attorney and I once had to meet in one of these
regular booths, and we both were agitated because we knew our
attorney-client privacy was being violated.
STURM: Has OSP implemented any changes to accommodate the need for
attorney-client privacy?
HASAN: Yes, but only for the new death-row arrivals. They are accommodated
with special conference rooms where their attorney-client privacy is
assured. Not only is their attorney-client privacy assured, but they are
also accommodated with longer hours to meet with their attorneys (as if our
cases have less significance than theirs). This is a violation of our
attorney-client privacy, as well as denying us equal protection and
treatment under the rule of law.
The prison administration's blatant discrimination can be summed up as
follows: Since Judge Gwin is closely monitoring how the new arrivals are
being treated, OSP is on its best behavior in its dealings with them. Yet,
OSP is deliberately violating all other prisoners' constitutional rights as
well as its policy which guarantees attorney-client privacy. In fact,
Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) policy 59-LEG-01,
Inmate Access to Court and Counsel, effective May 15, 2004, unambiguously
states, "Attorney visits will take place in a room designated for that purpose
where they can talk in private but be subject to visual observation." It also
states, "This policy applies to all Department of Rehabilitation and
Correction inmates and employees." (Emphasis added)
STURM: Many death-row prisoners have been relocated to OSP during the last
several weeks. Do prison guards treat you and other long-term prisoners
with the same amount of respect, more or less, following this move?
HASAN: The other long termers and I are neither in the same blocks nor pods
with the death-row prisoners, so I cannot say if we're being treated with
the same amount of respect, more or less, as them. But I can say that guards
treat us the same way they did before the relocation.
STURM: During the federal hearing in Cleveland, psychology expert Terry
Kupers characterized OSP as an "institution dominated by punishment." How
does OSP differ from other prisons you have lived in?
HASAN: Punishment is the norm, so I have to totally concur with the expert's
assertion that "OSP is an institution dominated by punishment." Leave alone
the excessive punishment imposed by the Rule Infraction Board (R.I.B.) for
intermediate or occasional major infractions, prisoners are unnecessarily
punished for almost every petty infraction, although a verbal reprimand
would suffice. A perfect illustration of unnecessary punishment is as
follows: If a prisoner is seen passing a stamped envelope, a magazine or an
ink pen to another prisoner, the item would be confiscated as contraband and
the former prisoner would receive a conduct report for "disobedience of a
direct order." When the hearing officer hears the conduct report, the
prisoner would be placed on anywhere from 30-90 days of commissary or
recreation restriction.
In sum, OSP is set on maintaining complete control and domination over its
subjects by way of fear, humiliation and punishment. To the contrary, there
would be no punishment in other prisons because there would be a designated
time for prisoners to pass and exchange such trivial, yet essential, items.
STURM: Has the level of violence inside the prison increased or decreased
since the relocation of death row?
HASAN: The level of violence has increased. In fact, there was a stabbing on
death row several weeks ago.
STURM: Have you had a chance to read Keith Lamar's recent book on the
Lucasville riot?
HASAN: Yes, I've had the opportunity to read the book, Condemned, and I
think he did an excellent job chronicling the craziness that followed the
state's decision to pin the bulk of what occurred on the backs of five
individuals dubbed "The Lucasville Five." It has indeed been an extremely
difficult and uphill battle trying to stay focused and engaged, and I think
Keith, in his book, captures the complexity of the situation and provides
the reader with an inside view of the insanity we've all been dealing with.
Along with Staughton Lynd's book, Lucasville: The Untold Story of a Prison
Uprising (Temple 2004), Condemned is yet another attempt to bring some
balance to one of the worst travesties of justice in recent history. I
definitely recommend it as a book to be read. From what I've been told,
copies of the book can be obtained by contacting Atty. Staughton Lynd at:
1694 Timbers Court
Niles, OH 44446-3941
Phone: (330) 652-9635
Fax: (330) 652-0171
Email:
Salynd@aol.com
People should read both books and join us in our efforts to bring our
overall situation to the public at large.
STURM: Philadelphia courts have agreed to hear arguments on claims by
Pennsylvania death-row prisoner, Mumia Abu-Jamal, that his 1982 trial and
state appeal were tainted by constitutional violations. What were your
first thoughts upon hearing this news?
HASAN: The startling news reached me (via an e-mail message) a day following
the execution of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, and like many others, I was
still in a state of sadness about Tookie's demise. However, the news about
Mumia's case brought tears of joy to my heart because I immediately
recognized it was a positive development which could ultimately lead to his
long-overdue release from captivity. It has been my long-held belief that if
Mumia is granted a new trial, he would be exonerated of the charge. Not
because of his international notoriety or journalistic contributions to the
voiceless, but because of the prosecutorial misconduct and grave miscarriage
of justice in his case. So my thoughts were and still are: Mumia Abu-Jamal
should be granted his rightful freedom back into society.
STURM: Public opinion polls show that nearly two-thirds of Americans support
the death penalty, but this is a significant drop from the peak, in 1994,
when 80 percent of respondents said they were in favor of capital
punishment. What do you think it would take to convince Ohio that the death
penalty is a thing of the past?
HASAN: Allah forbid, but for the execution of an innocent Ohioan. Based
on the large number of innocent people released from death row (over 117),
one can conclude that an innocent person has already been executed in the
U.S. This may even be the case in Ohio, but we may never actually know
because rarely does a person or organization spend its resources to prove a
dead person's innocence.
Fortunately, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund has promised Stanley "Tookie"
Williams' friend, Barbara Becnel, that it will use its resources in proving
Tookie's innocence. Equally important, Gov. Mark Warner of Virginia is
supporting an investigation into the execution of a possible innocent man,
Roger Coleman, which an official ruling is due any day.
Nevertheless, even if it's scientifically proven that Coleman was innocent
of killing his sister-in-law, I seriously doubt that would bring an end
to capital punishment in Ohio. Like most people in the U.S., most Ohioans
would probably say: Well, it didn't happen in our state and besides, we have
enough checks and balances in place to assure it doesn't happen in Ohio. But
my heartfelt question is, what ever happened to being concerned about our
neighbor? Better yet, what ever happened to the mind-set and conviction that
"it's better to let 100 guilty persons go free than to kill an innocent
person?" Yet, in spite of death-penalty proponents' stance, death-penalty
opponents must continue to raise the consciousness of Ohioans that capital
punishment in the U.S. is fraught with errors and it kills innocent people.
STURM: What are you currently reading?
HASAN: The Noble Qur'an; The Renegade Writer (Marion Street Press, Inc.
2003) by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell; The Writer's Idea Book (Writer's
Digest Book 2000) by Jack Heffron; Grammar the Easy Way (Barron's
Educational Series, Inc. 2002) by Dan Mulrey; The Fire Next Time (Vintage
International 1993) by James Baldwin; USA TODAY; and catching up on some
back issues of Ebony and Jet magazines.
Siddique Abdullah Hasan, # R 130-559
Ohio State Penitentiary
878 Coitsville-Hubbard Road
Youngstown, OH 44505-4635
---
Siddique Abdullah Hasan is the founder of Compassion, a newsletter that
supports healing communication between death row prisoners and the families
of murdered victims. A death row prisoner himself, Hasan was convicted
allegedly playing a leadership role in the 1993 Lucasville prison riots. The
riots occured shortly before his scheduled release on parole. Hasan
maintains his innocence. Hasan is a co-editor of
www.Prisonersolidarity.org.
Daniel Sturm teaches journalism at Youngstown State University in
Northeastern Ohio. He is a German journalist who covers underreported social
and political topics in Europe and in the United States. Some of his work
can be seen on the Internet, at
http://www.sturmstories.com. Sturm is a
co-editor of
www.Prisonersolidarity.org.
