Fergie Chambers is an American philanthropist who was arrested on July 10 in Ibiza, Spain, by order of the Trump Administration.
Originally published in Libertad para Fergie.
He remains in a Spanish prison, accused of participating in a protest against the Israeli arms company Elbit Systems and of an alleged crime of money laundering related to the financing of Palestinian organizations.
Fergie is innocent. Their only «crime» has been promoting humanitarian projects to help the people of Gaza, financing bakeries, medical clinics, drinking water infrastructure and other essential aid initiatives for thousands of families.
His acts of solidarity and his firm defense of the rights of the Palestinian people made him a target for those who consider solidarity a crime.
Our help is essential so that justice and the Spanish Government do not allow Fergie's extradition.
History
Who is Fergie?
James "Fergie" Chambers Jr. is an American philanthropist and activist committed for years to defending the rights of the Palestinian people and other social causes. Heir to the Cox family fortune, he has decided to allocate part of his assets to support the most vulnerable communities.
A father of four and an athlete, Fergie has funded humanitarian projects aimed at improving the lives of thousands of people. Among them, bakeries to feed families in Gaza, medical clinics to care for the wounded and drinking water infrastructure in besieged communities.
The case
Fergie Chambers was arrested in Ibiza, where he planned to settle with his family. The arrest occurred on July 10 following an international arrest warrant issued by the United States. Surrounded by several National Police vehicles, Fergie was arrested and taken to a Spanish prison where he remains in provisional detention waiting for the authorities to resolve the extradition request.
The United States government accuses him of participating in a protest against the Israeli arms company Elbit Systems and of money laundering to finance Palestinian organizations. This latest crime of which he is accused — and which could cost him a sentence of 20 years in prison — is based on the transfer of 7.5 million dollars that Fergie made from his own bank accounts in the United States to his accounts in Tunisia, where he allocated that money to sports, business and charitable activities among them the sponsorship of the Club Africain football team and investment in local businesses.
In addition, the funds were used to carry out humanitarian missions in Gaza, such as clinics, bakeries and drinking water infrastructure to serve the Gazan population experiencing a serious humanitarian crisis.
His contributions include a donation of $250,000 to the Sameer Project, which allowed him to start a bakery that distributes thousands of free loaves of bread every day, complete a desalination plant and maintain a free medical clinic in Yabalia, one of the hardest hit areas. from northern Gaza. He also donated $100,000 to the Zaynab Project, aimed at offering psychosocial support to thousands of orphaned children.
The extradition
Currently, the extradition request is under study by the Spanish authorities, whose legislation establishes that extradition cannot be granted when the accusations cover up political persecution.
Once the United States presents the final version of its extradition request, the Spanish justice system and the Government of Spain will have the opportunity to defend the rule of law by rejecting extradition.
A broad coalition of political parties, jurists and members of the Congress of Deputies have already spoken out in favor of Fergie's freedom and have asked the Government to respect Spanish legislation. They claim that solidarity with the Palestinian people cannot be seen as a crime.
Africain Club, Tunisia.
For Fergie's freedom — Manifesto
The philanthropist and human rights activist, James Cox «Fergie» Chambers, was arrested on July 10 in Ibiza (Spain) by order of the Trump Administration. He is currently detained in prison, waiting for Justice and the Spanish Government to decide his extradition to the United States.
The undersigned denounce the serious injustice that threatens Fergie, an American citizen who dedicates his life to defending the most disadvantaged around the world. Fergie comes from a millionaire family and guided by a deep commitment to social justice, he has put his assets at the service of solidarity projects both in the United States and internationally, especially in favor of the Palestinian population of Gaza.
Fergie donated $250,000 to Project Sameer, contributing to the launch of a bakery that produces thousands of loaves of bread for free each day, the completion of a water desalination plant and the opening of a free medical clinic in Jabalia, one of the most devastated areas of northern Gaza. He also donated $100,000 to Project Zaynab to expand mental health care and psychosocial support for orphaned children in Gaza. Altogether, it has allocated more than a million dollars to humanitarian projects in Gaza, in addition to funding organizations and media outlets that support the Palestinian cause.
The Trump Administration has launched an unprecedented offensive against institutions and individuals working to oppose genocide and defend international law in Palestine. Washington has imposed sanctions on judges and prosecutors of the International Criminal Court for the exercise of their jurisdictional functions, as well as on the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Now, the Trump Administration is requesting Fergie's extradition from Spain to the United States, accusing him of money laundering and supporting terrorist organizations. However, it has not presented any evidence to support such accusations. He limits himself to stating that Fergie transferred funds he owned to Tunisia, the country in which he resided, and that these funds were used to sponsor a prominent sports club, Club Africain, current champion of the Tunisian national football league.
This is an exclusively political persecution against a committed humanitarian worker. Fergie's place is not to be in prison, but with her family, continuing her work in support of those who need it most.
The extradition procedure does not only constitute a judicial procedure. Spanish legislation expressly recognizes that, even when a court declares an extradition legally appropriate, it is up to the Government to adopt the final decision on its execution, taking into account not only the domestic legal system, but also the essential interests of the State and the international obligations assumed. for Spain.
The Spanish state, legally, can and must prevent this extradition and grant it international protection through the recognition of the right to political asylum.
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