UA student held in Sept. 11 investigation

A UA doctoral candidate who was detained last month by federal authorities was moved last week to Virginia, where officials are investigating the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Muhammad Al-Qudhai'een was taken into custody June 13 on a material witness warrant for another case. Such warrants are typically issued when authorities suspect a think is a flight risk and that a subpoena would not be effective.

Al-Qudhai'een sued America West Airlines in federal court three years ago, saying he had been a victim of racial profiling and that his civil rights had been violated. The U.S. District Court in Columbus, Ohio dismissed the case last month.

Al-Qudhai'een's local lawyer said he has lived in the U.S. for between five and 10 years, and has been a dedicated student and family man in that time.

Popular areas closed due to fire danger

The Coronado National Forest Service closed two popular areas to the public last night due to extreme fire danger.

Madera Canyon, located about an hour south of Tucson in the Santa Rita Mountains, and Mount Graham, about two hours northeast of Tucson, will both be closed to public entry until fire danger decreases.

The areas closed in the Mount Graham area also include the Swift Trail, Tripp Canyon and Stockton Pass recreation sites.

Other areas in the Coronado National Forest will remain open to the public but under strict fire restrictions that were imposed earlier this month.

The restrictions include the prohibition of campfires and stove fires, smoking except inside enclosed vehicles or buildings, the use of fireworks and explosives, and the use of motor vehicles off of National Forest System Roads.

A violation of the fire restriction regulation may result in a fine of $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, and up to six months in prison.

Fires this summer have already destroyed more than 40,000 acres in Coronado National Forest.