7 Years Detained Illegally - Waiting For Trial

Dear Friends, Family

My name is Giovanna and I am starting this Fund Raiser for my son, Bilal. My son has been detained and awaiting trial going on 8 years now. Bilal is 40 years old and a wonderful son, father and humble and kind friend to all who know him. He is in El Paso Texas and wrongly charged for a serious crime. When I talk with people they say that is unheard of and he is there with the most time served pretrial than any other inmate. A major fundamental right this country affords is the right to bail, i.e. release pending trial. Bilal has been illegally denied that right and had to endure suffering, pain, and torture for these many years, this by making his bail excessive and oppressive, is all which is in violation of the US and Texas Constitution and an amount that we can never afford in an entire lifetime. We need and are asking for help to get him released on bond which is $500,000. I am also pleading for someone to hear his full story, and to consider him for representation on his Habeas Corpus that the court and higher courts just sit on and will not rule, breaking the laws that he is entitled to.

Bilal is disabled and has a lot of medical issues that the jail is not properly treating. He has been on a diet of 6 small Ensures a day, under 960 calories since April 19, 2022 because he will not violate his religion and will not accept non-Orthodox Kosher food that they know he cannot have and they refuse to give him a boiled egg and apple that was ordered by the Facility doctor. I am very worried about his malnourishment, he has lost over 50 pounds and has gone through and had to suffer and endure this cruel and unusual punishment now and for the entire time he has been incarcerated. His attorney will not fight to get him released and it hurts us all and him the most. His children were 1, 3 and 5 in 2016 and now they are 8, 10 and 12 and he has missed very important years of fathering and even seeing his children. So much has happened over these years that would take pages to write about, but he is in a terrible place where his rights are being violated every day.

If this page can be seen by 500,000 who can help out that would be a blessing, but that may not be a reality so were hoping that you would share this page and any donation big or small would be gratefully appreciated. Any resources or attorney connects would be so much appreciated, as well as any law students or organizations that can advocate for him. It has been really hard on us mentally, physically and financially with the cost of phone, commissary and other needs as well. I have not seen my son in three years because I live in NJ but we talk every single day.

Thank you for taking the time to read, share and/or donate. Feel free to reach out to me as I don’t want to be long winded in this writing. God bless