Outspoken Muslim physicist leaves U.S. after losing security clearance [View All]

[Mari333]

The Egyptian-born physicist, a U.S. citizen since 1988, lost his security clearance late last year, along with his job at the Bettis nuclear propulsion lab in West Mifflin, where he'd worked since 1990.

The clearance was revoked by order of Jeffrey Kupfer, acting deputy energy secretary. He said he had "reliable information" that Dr. El-Ganayni was a security risk but refused to let him see any evidence or defend himself.

The scientist filed a federal lawsuit seeking an independent review, charging retaliation for statements he made opposing the war in Iraq and the Bush administration's post-9/11 treatment of Muslims. He said the government invoked national security as a smokescreen to hide its lack of evidence.

"Everyone who knows me knows I am a very outspoken person, but I always watched what I said because I didn't want to lose my security clearance. I criticized the government for a war based on deception ... but many Americans were saying the same thing or worse. Yet they retaliated against me.

"So even though I have gained my freedom, I feel very sad that the American people have lost a good bit of their Constitution. John Adams said that once you lose your rights and liberties, it's very hard to get them back."









http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08333/931314-82.stm