ACLU/SC Lawsuit Demands Answers On the Scope of FBI Surveillance of Area Muslims
More than a year ago, the ACLU of Southern California, working with a coalition of leading Muslim Americans, requested basic information about FBI surveillance in Southern California, seeking to calm community fears of spying at mosques and data mining of community groups and leaders. As of this fall, the government had turned over only four pages of documents.
In September the ACLU/SC filed a federal lawsuit claiming the government's incomplete and long-delayed response violated the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
"The government has squandered an opportunity to build trust with Muslim Americans and broken the law by failing to release information in a timely and complete way," said Ranjana Natarajan, ACLU/SC staff attorney. "If the FBI is serious about addressing the concerns of Muslim Americans in Southern California that their religious rights are protected, it should release the records this lawsuit seeks."
In May 2006, several Muslim American leaders and community groups filed a joint FOIA request to the FBI for all records concerning the agency's surveillance and investigations of themselves or their groups since January 2001. News reports describing FBI surveillance of mosques, along with numerous personal accounts of worshippers who told of being questioned about their faith at home and at work, had caused a sense of unease among the region's Muslim American community. Yet, the FBI refused to explain what was going on or the scope of its actions.
The purpose of the lawsuit is to shed light on practices that have been reported in the press, such as nuclear radiation monitoring at mosques and alleged spying on mosques by federal agents.
"We are disappointed in the government's response, particularly because community understanding is crucial to the goals we share," said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations of the Greater Los Angeles Area. "National security is a great concern for American Muslims, and we take it seriously. In the same way, we take our religious freedom seriously."
Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the FBI has stepped up its counter-terrorism investigations, particularly of Muslim Americans. The FBI interviewed thousands of Muslim men after the attacks, and detained many who had not been accused of a crime. Several of the plaintiffs in the ACLU/SC's lawsuit have been personally questioned by federal agents.
"We are only exercising our Constitutional right and fulfilling our civic duty in demanding transparency and accountability by filing this lawsuit as a last resort," said Shakeel Syed, executive director of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California.
This is not the first time the ACLU has sought information about the scope of government surveillance of individuals and groups.
The ACLU has filed FOIA requests in 20 states on behalf of more than 150 organizations and individuals. So far the government has released documents revealing FBI monitoring and infiltration of political, environmental, anti-war and faith-based groups throughout the nation.
DECEMBER 2007
Download Issue as PDF
ACLU To LAPD: Map Roads, Not People
Union Board Votes For Impeachment
Jones Settlement A 'Good First Start'
LA 8: Victory In 20-Year Effort For Equality Under The Law
Costa Mesa Judge Dismisses Criminal Charges Against Benito Acosta
Fort Irwin Man Sues For Conscientious Objector Status
The Campaign To Save Our Constitution
Federal Judge Orders Expansion of Alternate Services For Mentally-Ill Children In State Care
ACLU/SC Lawsuit Demands Answers On the Scope of FBI Surveillance of Area Muslims
