MPAC Calls for Meeting
with Mueller & Gonzalez
on Surveillance Reports
Washington, DC: The Muslim Public Affairs
Council December 27 called for Attorney General Alberto
Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller to meet with American
Muslim leaders in response to reports of widespread surveillance
and radiation monitoring of more than 100 Muslim American
mosques, homes and businesses. John Miller, FBI Assistant
Director of Public Affairs, said such a meeting to address
civil rights concerns is imminent.
SEE: “Widespread Radioactive Surveillance Confirmed”
(New York Times, 12/24/05)
Following President Bush's admission and defense of widespread
wiretapping since 9/11, last week's US News and World Report
documentation of a secret radiation monitoring program has
significantly increased concerns of counterproductive counter-terrorism
measures.
For the vast majority of American Muslims, the admission
that such broad scale surveillance has been sanctioned by
the Bush administration will have a significant and negative
impact on the inclination of the Muslim American community
to cooperate in much-needed counter-terrorism efforts. American
Muslims are a crucial part of the solution to keeping their
nation safe. The emerging partnership between local Muslim
communities and their law enforcement counterparts are not
only undermined by such programs, but can be rendered ineffective.
"We are requesting to be informed of and included in
discussions about homeland security that affect our communities
across this nation," said Salam Al-Marayati, MPAC Executive
Director. "The more information we have, the better
our ability to help our government protect our nation. As
that communication decreases, it is more likely that these
very needed communities will feel alienated and excluded
from the national public debate."
MPAC has suggested to high-level Bush administration officials
that permanent advisory committees of Muslim American leaders
should be formulated in order to enhance the government's
ability to integrate mainstream Muslims in a more intelligent
and nuanced manner. Such advisory councils are already in
place in the United Kingdom, where permanent Advisory Councils
of British Muslim leaders to Prime Minister Blair and his
Home Secretary Richard Clarke have proven effective thus
far.
Other organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties
Union (ACLU), have called for the immediate appointment
of an outside special counsel to investigate and prosecute
any criminal acts and violations of laws as a result of
the National Security Agency's surveillance of domestic
targets, as authorized by President Bush.
SEE: "ACLU Calls on Gonzalez to Appoint Special Counsel
on NSA Domestic Spying" (ACLU, 12/21/05)
The American Muslim community has been consistent in its
contribution to our nation's efforts to combat terrorism
and extremism at home while vigorously working for the maintenance
of the civil rights and liberties that define our nation.
Programs such as the National Grassroots Campaign to Fight
Terrorism are testament to the willingness and success of
Muslim communities to protect themselves and protect our
nation.
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