Riad Hamad: A Death in Austin

by C. L. Cook

 

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, the Austin Police Department announced Riad Hamad's death as a 'suicide,' despite his body being discovered gagged and bound with duct tape. Hamad had claimed he was being targeted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement.  

Last February, while Riad Hamad was readying himself for another school day, the technology instructor's small Austin, Texas apartment was raided by more than a dozen FBI agents and police. The police were searching for something to implicate the founder of the Palestinian Children's Welfare Fund in: "wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering." 

 

In an article for The People's Voice, colleague and friend Eileen Fleming expresses skepticism in the official story, and relates an e:mail she and other friends of Riad's received shortly before his death:

 

• "Please DO NOT respond to this email as it is for your information only... besides the government harassment, the hateful environment from some students at school because I am an Arab and a Muslim... and their racist comments, I have been getting phone calls around midnight by some one saying "where is your camel?" ... and last... a car was vandalized about two years ago... last night around 1 30 in the morning... someone rang the bell and ran away.... and you could hear all the dogs in the neighborhood barking when the person who rang the bell ran away... A real loving environment towards Arabs and Muslims.... and it makes wonder... what have I done wrong?" 

 

Despite the bindings around Hamad's hands and face, the Austin Police Department deemed the death not suspicious, with spokesperson Sergeant Joseph Chacon contending it was possible Riad had bound himself, saying:

 

• "Right now, the indications are that this was not, there was not foul play involved. The bindings, although I can't go into them extensively, I can tell you that it is possible that he could have done this to himself."

 

The APD reported Hamad's family had told them he "had stressors in his life," and had talked of suicide.

 

Riad Hamad is survived by his long-time partner and their two children.

 

Friend and fellow activist David Rovics remembers Riad Hamad, saying:

 

• "[R]est in peace Riad Hamad, 1952-2008. He was a hard-working activist for the Palestinian people in Austin, Texas, a school teacher and a fixture of the Austin community. He formed the Palestine Children's Welfare Fund, sold my CD's among many other things to raise money for the cause, and endured regular harassment by the authorities. He was found dead two days ago by Lady Bird Lake, gagged and bound. The police are calling it a suicide.