Saturday, September 09, 2000Swedish Immigration Board
P.O. Box 6113
S-600 06 Norrköping
SWEDENLadies and Gentlemen:
I am writing to you at the recommendation of His Majesty The King of Sweden. Please see his letter enclosed, signed by the First Marshal of the Court.
We have a dire situation here in the United States, in the State of Alabama, that causes us to seek asylum into Sweden or any other country. We recognize this is an unusual request and perhaps it is not heard of before in your country that an American citizen would request asylum into another country, but this is an unusual situation, one that necessitates extraordinary measures to save a man's life.
The man of whom I speak is my husband, Mr. Patrick Swiney. He has been illegally and arbitrarily imprisoned by the State of Alabama for purely political reasons. He is innocent of the crime for which he was convicted, and we can prove this. The fact that the State of Alabama knows we can prove this, has put Mr. Swiney in a dangerous and deadly position, where the prison authorities have made several attempts on his life to silence him. They cannot "outright" murder him because too many people are watching, but they can and do try to murder him with no weapons. This is being done by withholding medication from him and by throwing him in the hot box during summer time. This is done by withholding nutrition from him, and by withholding legal documents from him, as he seeks justice and truth about his predicament.
Mr. Swiney has stated many times that he would gladly stand before any court in the world with the evidence the State used to convict him, and that he would gladly abide by the decision of any court in the world. He states this because the State of Alabama convicted him with NO evidence at all, no witnesses for the defense, and lies told by the officials to the jury who didn't know any better. They were never allowed to see the truth.
In 1996, we wrote a letter to Congressman Sonny Callahan, State of Alabama, asking for assistance in seeking asylum. Mr. Callahan tried to help by writing a letter to the Alabama Department of Corrections. The Department of Corrections' letter is enclosed for your reference.
We have gone to every court in the State of Alabama, with the truth. All requests have been denied by these evil officials who want Mr. Swiney to die in prison for a crime he never committed. I know this sounds dramatic, but it is true. Many of these officials were involved in a drug ring that Mr. Swiney uncovered years ago, and two high officials went to federal prison for their crimes because of Mr. Swiney's investigation while Mr. Swiney was serving the public as a police officer in the State of Alabama for 13 years in high standing. I will provide you with the details, should you be interested in helping us save this good man's life by offering him asylum into Sweden. In lieu of offering Mr. Swiney asylum, we request you contact the President of the United States and tell him to grant Mr. Swiney Presidential clemency so that he may walk free again, as he should be.
We will happily leave the State of Alabama, never to return. We have sought the Governor of Alabama, Don Siegleman, only to have him refuse letters. A sample of those refusals is enclosed to show you that we are not even being allowed to contact our own government with the truth. It is because this governor is connected to the same officials who want to see Mr. Swiney dead for what he did to members of their "good old boy" club years ago. Mr. Swiney has spent 12 long and torturous years in an Alabama prison through no fault of his own, but because of the corruption in this state.
We ask for your assistance. I would be happy to join my husband to move to and live in Sweden. We would have much to offer to your citizens and your government. Mr. Swiney is an honest law enforcement officer and I am a civil engineer, well accomplished in my field. All of this that I'm saying is 100% verifiable, should you wish to pursue this avenue of sanctuary for us. We would be forever grateful to you.
I look forward to hearing from you soon. Time is of the essence.
Respectfully,
Sherry Swiney
P.O. Box 1891
Alabaster, AL 35007
Copies:
Katarina Wikström
International Bannister Foundation
Ö. Nygatan 83
SE-93134 Skellefteå
SWEDENPatrick Swiney
154406 – d2
Holman 3700
Atmote, AL 36503