A Photojournalist's Fight: Faith, Freedom, and Fear

In a detention center in Georgia, a man named Ya'akub Vijandre is grappling with a harsh reality. He's been locked up since October, all because of some posts he made on social media. The government says these posts are linked to terrorism, but Vijandre and his lawyers argue that he's being targeted because of his Muslim faith. Vijandre, a 38-year-old photojournalist, martial arts teacher, and first responder, has lived in the US for 24 years. He's been reporting on political events and issues related to Palestinians, Israel, and the "war on terror" for decades. His Instagram account has nearly 9, 000 followers. But now, the government is saying his posts are a threat. The detention center is crowded, with an average of about 1, 650 people. Vijandre says the guards treat detainees badly, yelling at them when they don't understand English. He's been in this situation since October 7th, when ICE agents picked him up at his home in Arlington, Texas. Vijandre's legal team is fighting to get him out of detention while his immigration case is being resolved. They're using a legal tool called habeas corpus, which gives a detained person the right to ask a judge if their detention is lawful. The team argues that Vijandre's posts are constitutionally protected speech and that he's being targeted because of his faith. The government is focusing on a few posts in particular. One is about the Holy Land Foundation, which was convicted of supporting terrorism in 2008. Vijandre says he was just talking about due-process violations in their prosecution. Another post is about Aafia Siddiqui, who was sentenced to 86 years in prison for allegedly shooting at US military officers in Afghanistan. Vijandre says he was just highlighting the conditions she's suffered in prison. The government also points to a post where Vijandre "liked" a quote in English and the Shahada in Arabic, a basic pillar of the Muslim faith. The quote talks about the need for truthful, patient men in Islam. The government says the quote appeared in a magazine linked to Islamic State. Vijandre says the quote is just about the test of faith. Vijandre's family is worried about their safety too. With the rise of Islamophobia, they're afraid that ignorant people could use violence against them. Vijandre has a strong family history of service. His great-grandfather and grand-uncle received Congressional Gold Medals posthumously in 2020 for their service during World War II. Vijandre is also a Red Cross-trained first responder. He helped family members of the 67 people killed in a Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines jet accident in Washington DC in 2021. He spent two weeks assisting a family who lost a loved one. "Is this someone who glorifies terrorism? " Vijandre asks.

Actions