mastees

Muslim and civil rights groups are speaking out against the most recent reports of Islamophobia in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In a press conference outside FBI headquarters in Washington DC, speakers laid out their grievances. Most recently, reports have found the FBI hiring agents for its counterterrorism training program who had a history of making Islamophobic comments. Remarks in training sessions include stating al-Qaeda isn't the security threat but Islam itself, calling the Prophet Muhammad a "cult leader", and alleging that zakat or required Islamic charity giving is a "funding mechanism for combat". Previous complaints about Islamophobic trainers have met with little success. Speakers are demanding a Congressional investigation into prejudicial elements within the FBI as well as other abuses. Last week, the Council on American-Islamic Relations sent a letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller addressing its concerns but has yet to receive a response. Since 9/11, Islamophobia within law enforcement has becoming a growing trend, especially in the past few years, leading to fears that it will, in time, become an institutionalized norm.

(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 12/12/2012) - On Thursday, December 13, the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) will hold a news conference in Oklahoma City to call for an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) into alleged FBI harassment of Muslim Air Force veteran Saadiq Long, who recently returned to United States after being placed on a no-fly list while overseas. Long alleges that since his return to Oklahoma, he and his family have been subjected to repeated unwanted encounters with federal law enforcement authorities, including detention at gunpoint. He and his sister are scheduled to appear at the news conference. WHAT: News Conference to Announce Request for DOJ Investigation Into FBI Harassment of Saadiq Long WHEN: Thursday, December 13, 11 a.m. WHERE: CAIR-Oklahoma Office, 1112 NW 23rd, Suite 207, Oklahoma City, OK CONTACT: CAIR-OK Executive Director Adam Soltani, 405-248-5853, E-Mail: asoltani@cair.com Following intervention by CAIR-OK, Long, a U.S. citizen and Air Force veteran living in Qatar, was recently allowed to return to the United States. He had been struggling to return home for six months after being denied boarding on previous flights to visit his terminally-ill mother. SEE: Muslim Returns to Oklahoma After Being on US 'No-Fly' List http://newsok.com/muslim-man-returns-... CAIR, a Washington-based Muslim civil rights organization, has dealt with a number of similar cases nationwide in which Muslim citizens are prevented from returning to the United States or faced government coercion when seeking to return home. Video: CAIR Assists NY Muslim Stranded Overseas By No-Fly List http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHS808... Video: CAIR Works to Help Calif. Muslim on No-Fly List Return Home http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIvhvC... Student Takes Long Way Home After 'No-Fly' Designation (MSNBC) http://tinyurl.com/7wkq3zk CAIR: Embassy Returns Passport to U.S. Muslim Stuck in Kuwait http://tinyurl.com/3n7djcu CAIR Seeks Probe of Whether FBI Sought Torture of U.S. Muslim http://tinyurl.com/793u9wk CAIR Asks DOJ to Probe Oregon FBI's 'Coercion' of Muslim Citizens http://tinyurl.com/7ool6pf CAIR: Va. Muslim on No-Fly List Returning to U.S. http://tinyurl.com/6egwl7e CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational Subscribe to CAIR's E-Mail List http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe Subscribe to CAIR's Twitter Feed http://twitter.com/cairnational Subscribe to CAIR's YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/cairtv - END - CONTACT: CAIR-OK Operations Coordinator Jenell Mapp-Maynard, 405-415-6851, E-Mail: jmaynard@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/11/13) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today announced that a federal judge in Michigan has allowed a lawsuit against U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the FBI over the repeated detention and questioning of Muslims at and inside the United States-Canada border and other ports of entry to move forward. CAIR, which is co-counsel on the case with attorney Shereef Akeel, filed the lawsuit on behalf of four American citizens who reported that CBP and FBI agents detained and handcuffed them without evidence of wrongdoing and questioned them about their religious beliefs and worship habits. Questions reportedly asked of Michigan Muslims by CBP and FBI agents have included: * How many times a day do you pray? * Do you pray your morning prayer in the mosque? * Who else prays in your mosque? Judge Avern Cohn allowed the case to go forward based on alleged violations of the Constitution's Fifth Amendment equal protection guarantee. In his order denying the dismissal, Judge Cohn wrote: "This case presents an issue of first impression that, to the Court's knowledge, has never been addressed by another court in the nation. . .Plaintiffs have adequately pled that Defendants have a policy, custom and practice of questioning only Muslim-Americans at the border about their religious practices and beliefs. Moreover, Plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged that such policy, practice and custom targets a suspect class and has no rational basis." Read entire ruling by Judge Cohn: http://www.cair.com/images/pdf/order-... "We are pleased that this important case will move forward and those who faced unlawful government questioning about their religious beliefs will continue to have their day in court," said CAIR Staff Attorney Gadeir Abbas, who travelled to Michigan for the hearing on the government's motion. CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational Subscribe to CAIR's E-Mail List http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe Subscribe to CAIR's Twitter Feed http://twitter.com/cairnational Subscribe to CAIR's YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/cairtv - END - CONTACT: CAIR Staff Attorney Gadeir Abbas, 202-742-6410, 720-251-0425, E-mail: gabbas@cair.com; CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418, E-Mail: dwalid@cair.com; CAIR-MI Staff Attorney Lena Masri, 248-390-9784, E-Mail: lmasri@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Manager Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com