Biography
Lynne Stewart was a movement lawyer known for representing high profile figures facing charges related to political activism, including Black Panther Willie Holder and Adam Abdul-Hakeem. While representing Cleric Omar Abdel, she released a letter to the media written by the cleric which clarified his position on a ceasefire agreement between militants and the Egyptian government after it was falsely reported by the media that the cleric was urging the militants to engage in violence. The letter stated, "I Omar Abdel-Rahman am not withdrawing my support of the cease-fire, I am merely questioning it and I am urging you, who are on the ground there to discuss it and to include everyone in your discussions as we always have done." For this, Stewart was charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism. She was convicted on these charges and sentenced to 10 years in prison, a purposely harsh sentence given her old age and cancer diagnosis in order to make "an example out of her."
Stewart was released from prison on December 31, 2013, on a release order in light of being given 18 months to live with her cancer.
Lynne and her husband Ralph Poynter, teacher and union leader, have dedicated their lives' work to activism and will be forever remembered for their contributions to the struggle.
Earlier sentencing record
The Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney’s October 16, 2006 statement confirms that Ahmed Abdel Sattar, Lynne Stewart and Mohammed Yousry were sentenced that day. This short announcement does not state individual sentence lengths or actual jail-admission or release dates. It reports the prosecution’s dissatisfaction and consideration of an appeal, not an appeal decision or a later resentencing outcome. The October 2006 sentencing is distinct from the later July 15, 2010 resentencing already recorded here.
Contemporary jury-verdict chronology
The Department of Justice’s joint statement by Daniel Meron and Barry Sabin to the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 20, 2005, pages 2–3, dates the Manhattan jury’s guilty verdict against Ahmed Abdel Sattar, Lynne Stewart and Mohammed Yousry to February 10, 2005. It discusses Sattar’s conspiracy prosecution separately from Stewart and Yousry’s material-support convictions. The statement presents the prosecution’s account and is attributed as such.
This is the date of the jury verdict, not sentencing or physical jail admission. It is distinct from the October 16, 2006 sentencing already documented here and does not replace a later resentencing, appeal outcome, release date or separate custody episode.
Meron/Sabin Senate Judiciary statement, April 20, 2005, pages 2–3.
On November 17, 2009, the Second Circuit affirmed Stewart’s convictions but remanded for resentencing and ordered revocation of bail pending appeal. The original October 2006 sentence was 28 months; this appellate stage preceded her separately recorded 2010 resentencing.
