Tabbaa v. Chertoff: The Plaintiffs

April 20, 2005

Karema Atassi is a United States citizen who is Muslim and resides in Williamsville, New York. She is a 22-year-old graduate student at SUNY University at Buffalo studying school counseling. Ms. Atassi attended the December 2004 Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference to hear from the many respected Muslim scholars and to learn more about her religion. Ms. Atassi hoped to unite with other members of her faith, and looked forward to associating with other Muslims at the conference. She attended the conference with her husband, mother, brother, and their 7 month-old son. Ms. Atassi and her family previously attended the conference in January 2004.

Asmaa Elshinawy is a United States citizen who is Muslim and resides in Brooklyn, New York. Ms. Elshinawy is a 20-year-old teaching assistant at an early childhood center. Ms. Elshinawy attended the December 2004 Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference to learn more about her religion. She participated in the Muslim clothing bazaar and other Muslim cultural events at the conference. It was her first time attending the conference.

Galeb Rizek is a United States citizen who is Muslim and resides in Niagara Falls, New York. Mr. Rizek is a 33-year-old hotel manager who attended the December 2004 Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference because he wanted to learn more about his religion. He attended the conference to ask questions of Muslim scholars and reaffirm his religious faith.

Hassan Shibley is a United States citizen who is Muslim and resides in Amherst, New York. He is 18 years old and a political science major at SUNY University of Buffalo. Mr. Shibley attended the December 2004 Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference in order to contribute to Muslim unity and learn more about cultural dialogue between Muslims and members of other religious faiths. Mr. Shibley also attended the previous two conferences. Mr. Shibley attended the conference with his mother, Sawsan Tabbaa, his sisters and brother.

Sawsaan Tabbaa is a United States citizen who is Muslim and resides in Amherst, New York. Dr. Tabbaa is a clinical assistant instructor of orthodontics at SUNY University at Buffalo Dental School. She is a mother of 4 children who were all with her the night she was detained. Dr. Tabbaa attended the December 2004 Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference because she considers it her local hajj, or pilgrimage. She looked forward to the opportunity be meet other people who share a similar culture and faith. She also attended the previous two Reviving the Islamic Spirit conferences.

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