Police have referred to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) one of the threats received by officials at the University of South Florida for keeping a professor with alleged terrorist links on paid leave since September 11.
Sami Al-Arian, a computer science professor, has been on paid leave since September 27. Al-Arian, a Palestinian, is the former head of a university-based Islamic study think tank and charity the FBI has accused of being a front for terrorists. He denies any wrongdoing and also denies knowing that speakers his group sponsored were terrorists. Al-Arian has never been arrested, according to The Associated Press.
Meanwhile, South Florida president Judy Genshaft said she put Al-Arian on paid leave to ensure the safety of a campus reeling from a dozen death threats.
"For us, one death threat is too many," USF spokesman Michael Reich said. "We're going to err on the side of safety every time ... removing him from campus is best way to eliminate the issue."
The university received over 1,000 letters and e-mails both supporting and criticizing Genshaft's decision to put Al-Arian on leave and, later, her intent to fire him. Of the 14 specific threats that were investigated, ten have been closed and three others will be shortly, university police said. Only one case was referred to the FBI, reports said. (Albawaba.com)
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