For over a decade, my business partner has been living through an unimaginable ordeal: wrongful conviction and imprisonment, at Cheshire Correctional Institution in Connecticut.

He was unjustly ripped away from his life, missing not only the profound moment of burying his mother, but also the joy of witnessing the birth of his first grandchild.

The pain of losing irreplaceable life moments due to a miscarriage of justice, weighs heavily on him.

To compound this injustice, Connecticut's legal system has a “newly discovered evidence” prong that complicates the process of proving actual innocence. This measure seems more like an impediment than a solution, making it more challenging for innocent individuals like Abdus to prove their integrity and regain their freedom.

While the justice system is imagined as an instrument of good, it oftentimes falters. The Innocence Project - a leading group in rectifying wrongful convictions - states that over 20 individuals have been exonerated in Connecticut due to new evidence or DNA testing; this statistic underscores the fallibility of the system that convicted Abdus. Yet only about 10% of cases have DNA, so what about the rest of the wrongfully convicted and incarcerated?

We urge state lawmakers and officials to revisit and revise this newly discovered evidence prong to "newly presented evidence" there by, ensuring a path to justice with clear and convincing evidence having its day in court. Because even though we got ride of the death penalty in 2012, the care for people in custody lacks humanity, dignity, and preventative measures which makes death by incarceration an even more costly gruesome reality for all.

This petition demands the immediate release of Abdus who is advocating for policy changes that prioritize credible evidence-based determinations of innocence no matter when the evidence is presented.  Justice should not come with a price tag or an expiration.

Together, we can make a difference and bring attention to the necessity for legal amendments that safeguard against any injustice that leads to wrongful convictions. Connecticut can lead the way; there by showing that its legal system values truth, justice, and integrity, above all else.