Third of ‘Holy Land Five’ is Free after nearly two decades in US prisons

London - CAGE extends heartfelt congratulations to 64-year-old Mufid Abdulqader, a Palestinian-American and one of the Holy Land Foundation Five (HLF5), on his release from prison after 16 years. We also congratulate his family on being reunited with him after this long and unjust ordeal. Mufid will now transition to a halfway house for one year. The case of the HLF5 remains a profound example of how the war on terror has been weaponised to silence Muslim and Palestinian activism.

The Holy Land Foundation, once the largest Islamic charity in the U.S., had raised millions for humanitarian aid supporting Palestinians under Israeli occupation. Long targeted by pro-Israel groups, it was labeled a "terrorist organization" in 2004 amid the post-9/11 "war on terror," leading to the arrest of its leaders and the raiding of their homes by American authorities. The imprisonment of the Holy Land Foundation Five highlights how counterterrorism policies have long been used to criminalise advocacy for Palestinian rights and to intimidate Muslim communities. It also underscores the broader pattern of targeting political dissent and humanitarian efforts under the guise of national security.

Two of the five members remain in prison, Ghassan Elashi and Shukri Abu Baker both received 65 year sentences. We join the growing calls for their release and the dismissal of the baseless charges against them.

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