A leader in the Memphis Muslim community and a former leader inThe University of Memphis Muslim community was granted cancellationof deportation Monday after months of uncertainty.
Sheik Nabil Al-Bayakly, the former U of M Muslim StudentAssociation advisor and former head of the Arabic concentration ofthe foreign language department, was told he could stay in theUnited States, after being arrested under the U.S. Patriot Act,which Bayakly says gives the U.S. government the right to arrestcitizens without substantiated legal evidence.
"It is important for the public to understand that the PatriotAct gives the government the right to intrude on everyone'sprivacy, not just Muslims or Arabs," Bayakly said. "They can arrestyou for no reason -- just because."
Bayakly's deportation to his native Lebanon was cancelled basedon his good moral character and the hardship it would cause hisfour children, who are American citizens.
Bayakly was a large part of the Muslim student community oncampus until last semester, when he said The U of M fired himbecause of technical problems with his visa.
But Bayakly said the real reason he lost his job was becausemany of The University's beneficiaries threatened to withdrawfunding if he continued teaching there.
"I published a commentary in The Commercial Appeal about theU.S. foreign policy, and I lost my job shortly after," he said. "Iwas told off the record that the reason was because I had offendedsome beneficiaries, but the official reason they used was myvisa."
At least one U of M official said Bayakly's claim isunsubstantiated but that beneficiaries do have the right to decideif their resources are going to a cause with which they agree.
"A donor has a personal choice they can make and are free to actif they change their mind (about a donation)," said Marty Riggs,director of U of M Leadership Gifts and Campaigns. "They have everyright to decide how the resources they've earned should beallocated."
Ralph Albanese, chair of the foreign language department, saidalthough his department was sorry to see Bayakly go, the reason wasbecause of his visa. To keep a visa, a person must have a full-timejob, and at that time, The University did not have the funds for afull-time Arabic professor.
"Dr. Bayakly is a great person," Albanese said. "But the reasonhe was let go was because of his visa."
Around the same time he lost his position at The U of M,Bayakly, as well as thousands of other Muslim male foreignnationals, was ordered to register with the U.S. Immigration andNaturalization Service. After he was registered, photographed,fingerprinted and questioned, Bayakly said he was jailed -- but notcharged with anything -- and released on a $7,500 bond.
The Muslim Student Association formally withdrew its support ofBayakly upon his arrest. Bayakly said members told him they wereunable to back him or associate with him.
"Some people get cold feet," Bayakly said. "I don't hold itagainst them. They just weren't strong enough to stand behindme."
Repeated phone calls to the MSA were unreturned.
However, the recent cancellation of deportation has broughtabout new hope for Bayakly.
"This is the beginning of the struggle," he said. "I amdetermined to make people aware of issues that are affectingeveryone, among them civil rights and freedom of speech."
Bayakly, now a permanent U.S. resident, will take a position atRhodes College as the advisor of that college's Muslim StudentAssociation and plans to continue giving speeches and taking partin forums and panels to inform Memphians of the positive aspects ofIslam.
"Islam does not allow terrorism," he said. "The Koran is clearabout the subject, and I hope to help people understand that."
