Oz1997

Governor James Devlin:
The celebration of Ramadan is at the center of Islamic worship. Therefore, I am pleased, in the grand tradition of this holy time, to bestow clemency on a prisoner. Kareem Said has been an outspoken critic of our administration but, political differences aside, he has been an outstanding member of the prison population. Even after suffering a heart attack last year, he has continued to work with prisoners of every race and color, especially the young, to instruct them, guide them, to better lives. So I hereby grant Kareem Said a full pardon, and I wish him well in his new life.

Kareem Said:
[to Devlin] Finally we meet face-to-face.

Reporter at Press Conference:
Mr. Said, how do you feel?

Kareem Said:
How do I feel? I feel joyless. My brothers remain behind. Imprisoned. Suppressed. I don't just mean my Muslim brothers; I mean every single man who will sleep in here tonight. Who is cut off from everything that he loves. Cut off from his own self. You know, as the word went around that the governor was going to give someone clemency, I saw a rift develop. As each inmate wished himself to be the chosen one. The longing to be free became as palpable as the food that we eat. But it is a meal I am being *served* right now. And I am Muslim, and Allah does not allow me to... swallow certain things. Allah does not allow me to take scraps from the hands of a man such as this. A man who is corrupt and immoral. A man who denigrates the gift of clemency just as he violates the principles of justice. A man that gave the order to cause the death of eight people. And so, Governor Devlin, because even the cost of freedom can be too high, I *refuse* your pardon!