PRESS RELEASE FUNERAL AND MEDIA BRIEFING TODAY FOR WOMAN WHO DIED UNDER QUESTIONABLE CIRCUMSTANCES IN FEDERAL IMMIGRATION DETENTION WHAT: Funeral services for Hassiba Belbechir, a Chicago resident who was detained by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)*, will be held today at the Muslim Community Center in Chicago followed by a media briefing at the same location. Belbechir had been in custody for one week when she died in the McHenry County Adult Corrections Facility under questionable circumstances. She was traveling to Algeria on a French Passport when she was detained by British authorities and was sent back to the US. Abdul Malik Mujahid, chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, has called for a federal investigation into the death of Hassiba Belbechir. A briefing for members of the news media will follow the funeral. It will be held at the Muslim Community Center at 2 p.m. The victim’s family members and Mr. Mujahid will be available for comments. DETAILS OF BELBECHIR’S FUNERAL: WHO: Hassiba Belbechir was a 28-year-old Algerian woman living in Chicago WHEN: Funeral will be held at 1:30 PM, Wednesday March 23, 2005 WHERE: Muslim Community Center (MCC), 4380 N. Elston, Chicago, Illinois 60641 PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Muslim funeral prayer services; photos of the victim available. The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago is an umbrella organization representing over 400,000 Muslims throughout Chicagoland. Questions should be addressed to Muneer Aliuddin, CIOGC Community Outreach Director at (630) 629.7491 -END- ********************************************************* *The Council has been informed by the USCIS that the department responsible for the detention of Hassiba Belbachir was not USCIS, but instead the USICE. USCIS and USICE are both departments under Homeland Security. |
