ACLU seeks answers about FBI mosque surveillance

[sonz]

On behalf of Muslim organizations, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California filed a Freedom of Information Act request, seeking answers about the FBI's suveillance of mosques in the area.

The ACLU filed the request on behalf of the Council on American Islamic Relations, the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California and area mosques, as well as six Islamic leaders in the area.

The U.S. government has so far refused to comment on numerous media reports describing FBI monitoring of mosques and personal information of Muslim worshippers.

"We are people of faith and our mosques are peaceful and tolerant places of worship," said Shakeel Syed, executive director of the Islamic Shura Council.

"But people are being scared away from worship because of reports that mosques and those who pray at them are being monitored. People are afraid that practicing their religion or even visiting a mosque will make them a suspect of the government."

The government has two months to respond to the ACLU request, which seeks answers about whether area mosques and Muslim leaders are being monitored and if yes, why, according to Ranjana Natarajan, a staff attorney for the ACLU of Southern California.

"We firmly believe that mosques are peaceful places of worship and we will continue to meet with law enforcement officials and cooperate in legitimate law enforcement investigations," said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of CAIR.

"However, it is our right to expect transparency from our government,” he added.

The ACLU has filed Freedom of Information Act request in 20 states on behalf of more than 150 organizations and individuals including advocates for the environment, animal rights, labor, religion, Native American rights, fair trade, grassroots politics, peace, social justice, nuclear disarmament, human rights and civil liberties.

So far, the government has released documents that reveal surveillance by the FBI and local law enforcement that targets political, environmental, anti-war and faith-based groups all over the United States.

Aljazeera UK

[searchingsoul]

It's sad that we can't trust our own religious institutions anymore. It makes me sad and mad!

[Muezzin]

Let 'em look. They'll soon see they're just wasting their time in 99.9% of cases.

[searchingsoul]

Let 'em look. They'll soon see they're just wasting their time in 99.9% of cases.

That's the right attitude. Let them look for they have nothing to hide!