Tigard man stranded in Tunisia, prevented from returning home

PORTLAND, Ore. – An Oregon businessman is stranded in Tunisia after his name was added to the ‘no fly’ list.

The FBI has not commented on why Jamal Tarhuni, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, is being kept from returning home. He was not allowed to board a plane to come home on Jan. 17. Instead, Tarhuni was called to the U.S. Embassy, where his family says he was confronted by FBI agents.

Tarhuni spoke with KATU News from Tunisia via Skype.

"Here we are as an American trying to tell people about these basic rights but at the same time those rights are being taken away from me and I think it's wrong," said Tarhuni.

Jamal's daughter, Lina Tarhuni, said the uncertainty of the situation is the worst part.

"To hold someone back for absolutely no reason is absolutely appalling," said Lina Tarhuni. "It doesn't make me question America, but it does make me question what some Federal agencies are doing to abuse American citizens from their constitutional rights."

Now, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon is fighting for the Tigard businessman’s release. Tarhuni helped coordinate medical care in Libya during the end of Moammar Gadhafi's regime through Tigard-based Medical Teams International.

“He’s an Oregonian. He’s an American citizen. He works for a wonderful organization,” said Wyden. “And given all that, it’s just been extremely important to me that he be treated fairly.”

Wyden, a Democrat, is a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Tarhuni’s attorney said he plans to leave Monday for Tunisia to work out a way for his client to return home.

“The last I heard, he’s doing reasonably well. He’s upset,” said attorney Tom Nelson.

“It’s just been extremely important to me that he be treated fairly,” Wyden said. “Troubling that he doesn’t seem to have any sort of record or evidence that he’s done anything. That certainly is something that I want to see addressed.”