U.S. Muslim leaders say five Muslims cleared of "terrorism" charges this week were victims of racial profiling, the Chicago Tribune reported.
On Tuesday, prosecutors in Ohio dropped "terrorism" charges against Osama Abulhassan and Ali Houssaiky, saying they didn’t have enough information to prove that the men were involved in a "terrorist" plot.
"Our office and federal authorities do not believe that the defendants pose an imminent threat at this time," prosecutors said.
The men were arrested last week after they bought around 600 cell phones, which they intended to resell for a profit. They were charged with soliciting or providing for an act of terrorism, money laundering and a misdemeanor charge of lying to police.
The release comes just a day after the FBI said it found no evidence that three Texas men of Palestinian origin, also arrested last week in Michigan, have links to "terrorism".
Muslim leaders in Michigan complained that both groups of men were the victims of racial profiling.
"There was definitely some bad judgment used by some officials in Marietta (Ohio)," Abulhassan said after having spent nearly a week in jail.
"I couldn't tell you for sure whether it was racial profiling, but it definitely felt that way,” he added.
Muslim leaders also say that such arrests indicate increased targeting of Arab-Americans since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
"This is a very alarming trend and we have every right to be concerned," said Imad Hamad, Midwest regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
"If local police departments become the experts in terrorism and national security matters, they can just make an allegation that can ruin people's lives, simply because of ethnicity and national origin,” he added.
According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), reports of discrimination against Muslims sharply increased in the first six months after 9/11, fell in 2002, but climbed again after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
The number of assault or other discriminatory complaints filed with CAIR increased from 1,019 in 2003 to 1,972 in 2005, says Arsalan Iftikhar, CAIR's national legal director.
Re: Michigan Muslims “victims of racial profiling”
I believe the issue was the purchase of the cellphones, which can be used with explosive devices. I would rather my government make some mistakes than not investigate.
Re: Michigan Muslims “victims of racial profiling”
I don't think racial profiling is ever right... I think that if we start to let the police assume people are more likely to be guilty of a crime, or better "suspects" then we begin to build cultural stereotypes that we will all share... we are not at war with muslims... they didn't do anything to us... it's terrorists and anybody can be a terrorist
Re: Michigan Muslims “victims of racial profiling”
format_quote Originally Posted by Jayda
I don't think racial profiling is ever right... I think that if we start to let the police assume people are more likely to be guilty of a crime, or better "suspects" then we begin to build cultural stereotypes that we will all share... we are not at war with muslims... they didn't do anything to us... it's terrorists and anybody can be a terrorist
True, the USA is not at war with Islam. But it's undeniable that many muslims defend terrorism which makes it more difficult for the rest of the muslims.
Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends.
Re: Michigan Muslims “victims of racial profiling”
I did not know they defend terrorism... and I admit that is very disappointing... but I think maybe we just have to accept it is a consequence of free speech and hope that they stop holding those views... but we can't arrest them or assume they are guilty all the time because of that... maybe we have to be even more on our guard about our reactions to make sure we are still pursuing justice and not reveange for offending us...
Re: Michigan Muslims “victims of racial profiling”
[QUOTE=Jayda;456899]but we can't arrest them or assume they are guilty all the time because of that... [QUOTE]
Why shouldn't we? We need to protect ourselves. I'm not talking about aimlessly arresting muslims because they might pose a threat. I'm talking about arresting anyone who engages in a suspicious activity.
Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends.
Re: Michigan Muslims “victims of racial profiling”
format_quote Originally Posted by Jayda
I don't think racial profiling is ever right... I think that if we start to let the police assume people are more likely to be guilty of a crime, or better "suspects" then we begin to build cultural stereotypes that we will all share... we are not at war with muslims... they didn't do anything to us... it's terrorists and anybody can be a terrorist
"We must always remember that unlike acts of arson or murder, acts of terror refer less to objective deeds than to the reactions of a populace. By this logic whatever spreads terror is an act of terror and who does that better these days than our own electioneering government?"
I can name a hundred terrorists right off the bat, and none of them are muslims.
It is Allah, except Whom there is no God; the King, the Pure, the Giver of Peace, the Bestower of Safety, the Protector, the Most Honourable, the Compeller, the Proud; Purity is to Allah from all what they ascribe as partners (to Him)! Al-Quran 59:23
Re: Michigan Muslims “victims of racial profiling”
format_quote Originally Posted by Hawa
[/B]
"We must always remember that unlike acts of arson or murder, acts of terror refer less to objective deeds than to the reactions of a populace. By this logic whatever spreads terror is an act of terror and who does that better these days than our own electioneering government?"
I can name a hundred terrorists right off the bat, and none of them are muslims.
I urge you to report them to your local officials.
Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends.
Re: Michigan Muslims “victims of racial profiling”
When you are faced with terrorism, you look for those whose profile matches that of a terrorist. If you are looking for homegrown militia people, you look for white men. If you are looking for Arab and Muslim based terrorism, you look for Arabs and or Muslim men, and women of course. The same thing the police do on a daily basis with less violent crimes.
Re: Michigan Muslims “victims of racial profiling”
...racial profiling is very degrading... I don't think many people understand that...
My cousin was pulled over in Texas once and they asked to see his citizenship, when he showed them his drivers license the cop said that it didn't prove citizenship, so my cousin (who was born in florida) said he could not give the cop what he wanted and the cop beat him up...
I know border security is important but because it was important the officer had power he normally wouldn't and he used it just to degrade my cousin... there are lots of examples of this, when I was in the minority women's organization at school we invited a speaker to talk about how she was sexually assaulted by police just "doing their job." I don't think there is ever a good reason to give people that kind of power to do that to other people...
but i don't think the war on terror is a good idea to begin with... there are non-violent solutions left...
Re: Michigan Muslims “victims of racial profiling”
I should add that I have never been targeted for racial profiling... even when I dye my hair darker which looks more "latina" to some people. My cousin is really dark skinned and I am not...
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