There have been too many times in the last 17 years that I thought, we thought, Adnan thought that everything would work out. That the system would get it right, that a judge would get it right. And every time, up until the past year, we were wrong.

That’s why every step of this case now is full of hopeful trepidation for us. A balance of hope and fear, which, ironically, is the Islamic attitude towards God. The hopeful expectation of Grace and Mercy, tempered by a healthy, respectful fear of not receiving that Grace and Mercy, for whatever reason. But, God says over and over in the Islamic tradition, Mercy is His default. He inclines towards Mercy.

And finally now, after all these years, the court is inclining that way too. There was no reason to think that Justin’s response brief from a few weeks ago would not prevail, but again – the fear remained. The last time I felt such unbridled relief, joy that near made my chest explode, was back in February, when I sat in a hotel room in Georgia in the early morning hours and saw that MD Court of Special Appeals would entertain his appeal after the post-conviction was denied. Only happens in 1.2% of cases. But it happened.

Today, as I waited on a delayed flight in a bright, busy airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, I got the news that his motion to reopen the post-conviction appeal was granted, in the “interests of justice”. By the same judge that denied it, and the same judge that prosecutor Kevin Urick, having taken an oath as an officer of the law, lied to. I would hate, just hate testifying in front of a Judge I lied to.

I blubbered, as is customary for me, called Yusuf to tell his and his parents, called Saad, messaged my husband and friends, sent an email to Susan, Colin, Bob and Dennis. And then the deluge of tweets, texts, messages began. So much relief and happiness, from all corners of the world.

Adnan called his family, as he usually does in the evenings, and Yusuf told him the good news. He was elated, especially because the order allows not just Asia, but the cell records fax cover sheet (you GO SUSAN) Brady violation into consideration, which the court did of it’s own discretion, in other words they totally did not have to. Note that the plea issue raised by Adnan is still active and alive, but not before this court. This court was asked to take a look at Asia, not the plea, and indicates below that the other issues (ie the plea deal) are still active and pending with the higher court:

Judge Welch is allowing in both Asia’s alibi testimony and the cell phone evidence – or lack thereof – that Justin recently raised. Asia will testify to her recollection of the afternoon of January 13, 1999 AND how she was talked out of testifying at the post conviction hearing by Urick. The order actually specifically allows for evidence of this misconduct. The cell phone expert will testify about the impact of that fax cover sheet, and how he was fooled into his role as an “expert”, his testimony manipulated based on evidence withheld, also by our good friend Urick.

Dirty deeds will eventually catch up to you.

A hearing will soon be scheduled. Abe Waranowitz will be called to testify. Asia will be called to testify. Adnan will be there. Will the State call Urick be called by the State to counter their testimony? Maybe. I’d hate to have him as my witness.

But I doubt it. Because this house of cards, which has been crumbling for the past year, is not yet done falling to bits. Keep watching, folks. A few final blows remain yet to Urick (everything he did to thwart a fair trial for Adnan is not yet public) and also to someone else.

The cards of the esteemed Deputy Attorney General of Maryland Thiru , who is leading the charge on behalf of the State, will also very soon fall fast and hard. And the world will bear witness to how low prosecutors are willing to go to get their convictions. And I will repeatedly remind everyone that he is the Deputy Attorney General.

I will be the first in line to file ethics complaints against them.

The arc of of the moral universe is long, but bends towards justice. Justice for both Adnan and Hae.

Traveling brings blessings.

Hallelujah and Alhamdulillah.

The Emperor wears no clothes.