Let me introduce you to a new friend. Zahid Imran, MD is an innocent, former-incarcerated physician. He heard of Doctors of Courage through another inmate, and reached out to me. A fantastic find! He is a wonderful writer, and really understands the problem. Here is his very apropos letter in honor of Independence day. Everything he says is “right on”.
Dear Friends — Happy 4th of July. Independence is a worth celebrating and while I celebrate the Independence of United States of America, I wish the same for all those who are in bondage, slavery of any kind, under occupation or neo-colonial rule to be able to enjoy the gifts of Independence.
Freedom and Independence should not be taken for granted rather it should be guarded. This is one blessing that is easy to lose if the civil society does not work hard to protect and can be lost to tyranny and oppression before masses even realize. Once it is lost, regaining it becomes a very hard task. The history of people of Kashmir, Palestine and Jewish people are great lessons. Yes, I do understand the case for a home land for Jewish Diaspora. They have been in exile for centuries. Now the “great powers” have put the two groups fighting for their independence in a situation where they are fighting against each other with no end in sight.
Let us not forget that the United States of America has evolved into a “CARCERAL STATE”. While we enjoy fireworks and parades we must keep those citizens in mind who have been brandished forever with a label of ‘felon”. Many of them, innocent. A recent study claimed that at least 17% (or 19%) who plead guilty in courts are in fact INNOCENT.
A Justice System that was built on the premise that ‘it would let 99 guilty walk rather than convicting ONE innocent” has become a mockery of this concept where 95% plead guilty who are charged without ever going to trial. Why? The trials result in brutal sentences and are rigged by Federal Judges in favor of prosecution.
Recently the plea of General Michael Flynn has forced even conservative Wall Street Journal to express concerns in editorials and op-ed pages. Wall Street Journal even published an op-ed written by Rod Blagojevich, ex-governor of Illinois in which he announced that he is Innocent and that the courts are prosecuting non-crimes.
I ask all my family and friends to pledge today that they will work for Judicial and Prison Reforms. Today is the most appropriate day to make this pledge.
I do make this pledge because my mom (may God bless her soul) taught us loyalty and sincerity to our every pledge and that includes my PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA —
I will work for Judicial Reform for keeping the promise of America — the land of the brave and the free.
Zahid
Dr. Imran wrote this while incarcerated at Montgomery Federal Prison Camp in Alabama.
Addendum
Dr. Imran is now free and an editor on Doctorsofcourage, working for the freedom and exoneration of all innocent medical practitioner victims of the rogue Department of Justice and the corrupt Judicial System.
