FBI Jeopardizing Muslim Civil Rights, Say Activists

Story tools

A A AResize

India West, News Report, Sunita Sohrabji, Posted: Aug 27, 2010

Several civil liberties organizations are claiming that the constitutional rights of Muslim Americans are in jeopardy following a startling revelation, made by the FBI itself, that the agency needs no suspicion of wrongdoing before it initiates surveillance.

In a July 28 letter addressed to Senate Judiciary committee members Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, following the testimony of FBI director Robert Mueller, the agency said that suspicion of wrongdoing was not necessary to launch an investigation against an individual or organization.

“No particular factual predication is required” for the initiation of a preliminary investigation, according to the FBI’s operational guidelines, which are available in a redacted version on the agency’s Web site.

“This is intelligence gathering run amok,” Shahid Buttar, executive director of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, told India-West. “The FBI is saying it can initiate surveillance without a reason.”

“This is a dragnet way of uncovering information and a dramatic step backwards in the history of civil rights,” he asserted, noting that the fourth amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects individuals against unreasonable searches, and requires probable cause for investigations.

“The FBI has made an admission that we’ve known all along: that the agency is allowed to surveil without any suspicion of criminality,” Nura Maznavi, counsel for the Program to Combat Racial and Religious Profiling at Muslim Advocates, told India-West.

The FBI operates under the Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide, approved during the waning days of the Bush administration.

Muslim Advocates, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the BORDC among other organizations, have claimed that the guidelines use race as a basis for determining whether to initiate surveillance, thereby unfairly targeting Muslims.

But Mueller defended the DIOG at the July 28 Senate Judiciary committee hearings, saying that race and religion could not be used as sole criteria for initiating an investigation of a person or organization.

During the hearing, Durbin asked Mueller, “Is there a requirement of suspicion of wrongdoing before there is surveillance of an individual…or location?”

The FBI director replied that the DIOG requires “a suspicion of wrongdoing” before surveillance is initiated.

Later that day, however, FBI Assistant Director of Congressional Affairs Stephen Kelly sent a note to Durbin and Leahy, saying suspicion of wrongdoing was not required to launch an investigation.

The letter, addressed to Durbin, said, “Upon reviewing the transcript of the hearing today, Director Mueller realized that he misspoke.”

“You asked the director whether there is a requirement of ‘suspicion of wrongdoing’ in order for the FBI to engage in surveillance of an individual or location under the FBI's Domestic Investigation and Operations Guide (DIOG). His answer should have been that there must be a proper purpose for the surveillance,” Kelly said in the letter.

“Suspicion of wrongdoing could be a proper purpose, but it is not the only proper purpose,” wrote Kelly, adding however, that membership in a race or religious group cannot by itself constitute a proper purpose.

Max Gleischman, a spokesman for Durbin’s office, told India-West that the senator had not yet seen the letter. Durbin had been undergoing surgery for a stomach tumor, and was released from the hospital Aug. 14.

Maznavi and Buttar both alleged that the FBI has been initiating investigations in Muslim homes and mosques that they characterized as “general fishing expeditions” that could lead to clues about other members of the community.

The FBI also visits people at their jobs, said Maznavi, adding that such surveillance impacts a person’s reputation at their place of employment.

The agency also frequently sends informants into mosques, alleged Maznavi, pointing to two high-profile cases in Irvine, Calif., and in Florida. Such a practice makes congegrants suspicious of one another and promotes fear within the community, she said.

The FBI does not need a warrant to initiate such interviews or investigations, said Maznavi, adding that people approached by the FBI should ask for proper identification and a business card, and ask to speak only with an attorney present.

FBI spokesperson Paul Bresson, however, told India-West that race alone could not be used as a reason to initiate surveillance and that proper purpose had to be established.

He pointed to a section of DIOG, which states that national security investigations often have ethnic aspects, such as the members of a foreign terrorist organization who are all from the same part of the world, or ethnic gangs.

But a well-founded and investigative purpose must exist before considering racial, ethnic, national origin or religious factors for an investigation, according to DIOG.

When race or religion are relevant factors, they cannot be the only factors, according to the 258-page DIOG.

Several civil liberties organizations have put pressure on the administration to rescind DIOG, but Buttar said Obama has not indicated that he plans to reconsider the guidelines.

“There is a remarkable lack of awareness with which America has gone from being a country that represented freedom and individual rights to the most-monitored and surveilled country in the world,” he said.

The Associated Press provided India-West with a copy of the note from the FBI to Durbin.

Comments

las vegas seo

Posted Sep 15 2010

Excellent stuff, Just forwarded this on to a coworker who read up on this and she took me to eat after I gave her this site. So, appreciate it!!

generika apotheke

Posted Nov 11 2010

Every time I see blogs as good as this because I should stop bludging and start working on mine.Thanks

lida daidaihua kaufen

Posted Nov 11 2010

I don’t usually reply to posts but I will in this case.
my God, i thought you were going to chip in with some decisive insght at the end there, not leave it
with ‘we leave it to you to decide’.

Cessione del Quinto

Posted Nov 19 2010

I love to learning more on this topic if possible, as you gain expertise, will you update your blog with more information?

herbal medicines

Posted Nov 21 2010

Welcome to the entire world of massive financial savings on herbal medicines and herbal items. Herbal Viagra.

adult toys store

Posted Nov 21 2010

A triple crown is a unique cock-ring that has additional rings for restraining the testicles. In orgasm, the testicles normally retract towards the physique just before ejaculation. A triple crown alterations and intensifies the sensation of orgasm by forcing the testicles to keep apart from the physique. Adult rabbit vibrators.

Cary Bixler

Posted Nov 23 2010

hjh ddfh aswer aswer dg

generic valium

Posted Nov 23 2010

You ought to not use Valium if you are allergic to diazepam, or if you have myasthenia gravis, serious liver illness, narrow-angle glaucoma, a extreme respiration issue, or sleep apnea. Valium no prescription

cheap xanax no prescription

Posted Nov 23 2010

Talk about the use of grapefruit objects with your physician. Buy Xanax no prescription.

Kvepalai moterims

Posted Dec 6 2010

Thank you for great article. I had a very good time reading, and there were few things I was surprised by.

Kvepalai pigiau

Posted Dec 7 2010

This is great news! Looking forward to see more.

Kvepalai vyrams

Posted Dec 7 2010

I also use wordpress for my website. The best thing is that comments add additional content. By the way, your chosen design suits perfetcly what is site about.

dicke titten

Posted Dec 10 2010

I like your blog.

dicke titten

Posted Dec 14 2010

I like your blog.

kontaktanzeigen

Posted Dec 14 2010

I like your blog.

dekoratyvine kosmetika

Posted Dec 24 2010

Hi. First of all - fantastic blog! Secondly this article was also good and interesting to read, but I don't think everything you have said is completely true. I will need to google about few things you have mentioned in your artcile to make sure. But anyway thanks for taking your time to write intresting artciles and good luck on writing other articles. P.S sorry for bad English, I aren't English native speaker.

kvepalai pigiau

Posted Dec 25 2010

Yo. First of all - great blog! Secondly this information was also good and interesting to read, but I don't think everything you have said is how it is in reality. I will need to google about few things you have mentioned in your artcile to make sure. But anyway thanks for the great effort and good luck on writing other articles. P.S sorry for bad English, I aren't English native speaker.

moteriski kvepalai

Posted Dec 27 2010

Hi. First of all - nice blog! Secondly this information was also good and interesting to read, but I don't think everything you have said is how it is in reality. I will need to google about few things you have mentioned in your artcile to make sure. But anyway thanks for the great effort and good luck on writing other articles. P.S sorry for bad English, I aren't English native speaker.

Retractable Awnings

Posted Jan 2

Nice web site.From your blog,I know some thing other people that I didn't know before. awnings garden

kvepalai

Posted Jan 2

Yo. First of all - interesting blog! Secondly this information was also good and interesting to read, but I don't think everything you have said is real truth. I will need to google about few things you have mentioned in your artcile to make sure. But anyway thanks for trying and good luck on writing other articles. P.S sorry for bad English, I aren't English native speaker.

order cheap Amoxil

Posted Jan 3

The new Zune browser is surprisingly good, but not as good as the iPod's. It works well, but isn't as fast as Safari, and has a clunkier interface. If you occasionally plan on using the web browser that's not an issue, but if you're planning to browse the web alot from your PMP then the iPod's larger screen and better browser may be important.

order cheap Amoxil

Posted Jan 4

The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it'll do even better in those areas, but for now it's a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod's strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.

order generic Amoxil

Posted Jan 4

Hands down, Apple's app store wins by a mile. It's a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the realm of games, but I'm not sure I'd want to bet on the future if this aspect is important to you. The iPod is a much better choice in that case.

Glayds Malkin

Posted Jan 10

Mostly helpful blog post. the information that you provided is amazing and most importantly i liked how you provided things here. Really, the concept is real time applicable and as per the current demand of the internet user society.

wpolscemamymocneseo

Posted Jan 11

Very efficiently written article. It will be useful to anyone who employess it, as well as me. Keep up the good work â€“ canâ€™r wait to read more posts.

cityville cash

Posted Jan 16

hey you guys, I was just checkin' out this blog and I really love the basis of the article, and have nothing to do, so if anyone wants to have an enjoyable chat about it, please contact me on POF, my name is clarissa meautle

Rosetta stone french

Posted Jan 25

This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like 'Mixview' that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you're listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of "neighbors" will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune "Social" is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose.

rosetta stone language

Posted Jan 26

If you're still on the fence: grab your favorite earphones, head down to a Best Buy and ask to plug them into a Zune then an iPod and see which one sounds better to you, and which interface makes you smile more. Then you'll know which is right for you.

darmowe mp3

Posted Jan 26

Sorry for the huge review, but I'm really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it's the right choice for you.

get Augmentin pills

Posted Jan 26

Thanks for taking the time to talk about this, I feel fervently about this and I take pleasure in learning about this topic. Please, as you gain information, please update this blog with more information. I have found it very useful. There have to be charging stations everywhere.

buy Levaquin online

Posted Jan 27

buy Augmentin online

Posted Jan 27

Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass' favor.

aktorka z transformers

Posted Feb 4

I know it but can u write some more about it? I will read more;)

horde leveling guide

Posted Feb 8

Your website arrived up in my search i am in awe of what you have published on this subject. I am presently extending my investigation and thus can't contribute further, notwithstanding, I've bookmarked your web site and you'll be returning to keep up with any approaching revisions. Simply love it and thank you for tolerating my comment.

escort istanbul

Posted Feb 10

Eğer istanbulda bir escort bayan arıyorsanız bizden daha kalitelisini bulamazsınız. Eğlence ve seks de limiti olmayan kızlarımıza sadece bir tık uzaktasınız.

Escort Kiev

Posted Feb 11

Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!

Byron M. Swann

Posted Feb 12

I wanted to thank you for this brilliant read!! I am definitely getting every little bit of this I have you bookmarked to check out new items you submit

Charise Sarkis

Posted Feb 13

Aided me a lot, just what I was searching for : D.

Best Wireless N Router

Posted Feb 14

How does someone extend the range of your Wireless N router? We have an Xtreme N the now necessary wireless router (Dlink). I must extend the reach of the wireless signal. I understand how to do it for some sort of G signal. I need to learn how to do them for an N signal. Is it possible make use of regular N routers when repeaters. If so, learn how to configure them. Thanks for the information.

justin bieber eenie meenie

Posted Feb 17

I very much like what you are saying here. Maybe check my blog and see what you think?

justin bieber lyrics

Posted Feb 17

Good points made and I have to say I do agree with you for the most part.

justin bieber songs

Posted Feb 18

I just thought I would leave a comment to let you how much of a nice read this actually was.

Powiekszanie penisa

Posted Feb 18

Hi all, I am a frequent user of your site and I love it. I decided to start your website and would like to commend powiekszanie penisa . I hope you too.

justin bieber phone number

Posted Feb 18

Happy to be able to agree with you with what you are syaing...

oferty pracy

Posted Feb 22

I was thrown out of college for cheating on the metaphysics exam: I looked into the soul of another boy. ~Woody Allen

Toko Baju

Posted Feb 28

Sorry for the huge review, but I'm really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it's the right choice for you.

najlepszy hosting seo

Posted Mar 1

Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!

data entry jobs

Posted Mar 1

chat

Posted Mar 3

Zune and iPod: Most people compare the Zune to the Touch, but after seeing how slim and surprisingly small and light it is, I consider it to be a rather unique hybrid that combines qualities of both the Touch and the Nano. It's very colorful and lovely OLED screen is slightly smaller than the touch screen, but the player itself feels quite a bit smaller and lighter. It weighs about 2/3 as much, and is noticeably smaller in width and height, while being just a hair thicker.

chat

Posted Mar 3

chat

Posted Mar 3

I'll gear this review to 2 types of people: current Zune owners who are considering an upgrade, and people trying to decide between a Zune and an iPod. (There are other players worth considering out there, like the Sony Walkman X, but I hope this gives you enough info to make an informed decision of the Zune vs players other than the iPod line as well.)

chat

Posted Mar 4

Sohbet

Posted Mar 4

Between me and my husband we've owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I've settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.

Sohbet

Posted Mar 4

Keflex dosage

Posted Mar 5

I found your site from altavista and it is eye-popping. Thank you for sharing such an incredible article...

how old is justin bieber

Posted Mar 5

Hello, just wanted to let you kow how much of an interesting read this was. Look forward to the next installment.

Resor

Posted Mar 5

actually enjoyed what that you published actually. it really isn't that simple to discover great posts toactually read (you know.. really READ and not simply browsing through it like some zombie before moving on), so cheers mate for really not wasting any of my time! :)

dallas plumbing

Posted Mar 6

Can I simply say what a aid to seek out somebody who really is aware of what theyre talking about on the internet. You undoubtedly know learn how to deliver an issue to mild and make it important. More people have to read this and perceive this facet of the story. I cant imagine youre no more in style because you undoubtedly have the gift.

najlepszy hosting seo

Posted Mar 7

You made some decent points there. I looked on the internet for the issue and found most individuals will go along with with your website.

najlepszy hosting seo

Posted Mar 7

Aw, this was a really nice post. In idea I would like to put in writing like this additionally taking time and actual effort to make a very good article but what can I say! I procrastinate alot and by no means seem to get something done.

centrum odszkodowań

Posted Mar 10

im jurnalist, can you write a lot of articles on other subject? nice pen;)

bronzer on

Posted Mar 11

Smart stuff, I expect reading more.

mac

Posted Mar 13

This post is awarded a 2 thumbs up from over here.

air conditioning repair plano texas

Posted Mar 13

outdoor furniture clearance

Posted Mar 15

I like your blog. It sound every nice. I would share this with my mother.

synthetic wicker furniture sale

Posted Mar 15

Thanks for sharing this helpful info. I love your post and will definitely share this with my mom

synthetic wicker furniture

Posted Mar 15

Thanks for sharing this good info. I love your article and will definitely share this with my friend

ativan no prescription

Posted Mar 16

Ativan can trigger start defects in an unborn infant. Do not use Ativan without having your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Notify your medical doctor if you become pregnant throughout treatment. Use an successful type of delivery handle whilst you are utilizing this medicine. Buy brand Ativan.

zero friction marketing

Posted Mar 16

You made several nice points there. I did a search on the matter and found nearly all persons will consent with your blog.

gel polish

Posted Mar 17

That's a great idea.

MP3 players for kids

Posted Mar 17

The definition of some really good cd players for kids? My cousin is 5 years of age and for christmas I want to buy her a music, she loves my nano but I think it becomes difficult for her to utilize it. Are there any good ones for kids?

Right here is the

Posted moments ago

This is the sort of information I have been searching for. Thanks for writing this information.

Disclaimer: Comments do not necessarily reflect the views of New America Media. NAM reserves the right to edit or delete comments. Once published, comments are visible to search engines and will remain in their archives. If you do not want your identity connected to comments on this site, please refrain from commenting or use a handle or alias instead of your real name.

Vietnam Announces Live-Fire Naval Exercises Following Maritime Disputes with China