Meeting with the Federal and law enforcement authorities
19 March 2003 (6-8PM) at the RI International Institute, Providence, RI.

Muslim Delegation: Wali Bey (Zumratul-Jannah); Farid Ansari, Na’ima Ansari, Persis Stauton (Muslim American Dawah Center); Abdul-Hameed, Ahmadi Abdul-Hameed (Islamic Center of RI); Rubina Enayat (Muslim Heritage Council); Mohamed Lookman Davies (Ar-Razzak); Nasser Zawia (Al-Hoda); and Muhammad Abdur-Rahman, Jennah Ead (RI Council for Muslim Advancement, RICMA).

Authority delegation (see table below): US Attorney, Director of Counter Terrorism and Law enforcement, Assistant US Attorney for Anti-Terrorism, Supervisory Special Agent from FBI, Supervisory Special Agent from Bureau of Immigration & Customs, Colonel & Superintendent of RI State Police, Colonel & Chief of Police of Providence Police, Colonel & Chief of Police of East Providence, Colonel & Chief of Police for Cranston, Colonel and Chief of Police for Pawtucket, Chief of Staff of Department of Attorney General, Director of Community Outreach & Crime Prevention of Department of Attorney General, Senate Aid for Senator Jack Reed, Attorney Norman Orendenker (from the “Governor’s Commission on Prejudice and Bias”),

Salient Points of the meeting :

  • The two main messages from the Authorities are:
    • They will help the Muslim community against any “backlashes” or “hate crimes” and they will not tolerate them.
    • Their duty requires that they know and eliminate any “terrorist activities” before they happen, and that they will enforce the law in this regard.
  • Muslims requested that their community should be respected and its “Civil Rights” not violated when the authorities are conducting their job, and that Muslims should not suffer hardship, job loss, or discrimination during this process. The authorities (FBI) indicated that we should let their superiors know of such cases and that they will correct them.
  • Muslims indicated that they should not be held responsible for the miss-use of their charities to organizations, if these organizations are later labeled “terrorist organizations” by the authorities. The authorities indicated that a list of accepted “Islamic Charitable Organizations” in the US will be provided to us.
  • Muslims indicated that their ”bank accounts” are being investigated and that banks sometimes close, freeze, and delayed their transactions for no reason. The authorities indicated that the same is happening with other communities. Muslims should let them know about these banks and which accounts and they will investigate these incidents on a case by case bases.
  • Muslims indicated their concern about “Stereo Typing”, “guilt by association”, and “insensitivity” of some of the law enforcement agents when they conduct their work. What do we tell our community about these existing trends from the authorities? Authorities indicated that Muslims should “reach out” and “educate” both the “public” and the “authorities” about Islam using media and other means. Muslims should also bring such incidents to the attention of the “superiors” in the authorities. The attorney (from the “Governor’s Commission on Prejudice and Bias) indicated Muslims have to report incidents of “hate crimes” and the willingness of his office to handle these issues.
  • Muslims indicated the need to increased security for Mosques and Islamic Centers when the war erupts. The authorities requested a list of these institutions and their addresses.
  • The authorities indicated that they will have “sensitivity training” to the law enforcement staff about Islam and that Muslims are invited to participate in this training.
  • Muslims requested that their community not be targeted with parking tickets during Jummah prayer at masjids (except Hydrants, No-Parking signs, driveways).
  • How do Muslims react when visited by FBI? A call to 911 will confirm that this visit is indeed from the FBI (other phone numbers will be provided by the Providence Police Chief). Muslims should know their rights during these visits (Check www.RICMA.org ).
  • Authorities indicated that they are looking forward more frequent meetings with the leaders of the Muslim community on the same (or smaller) scale to discuss issues that concern both sides.
  • The following concerns of the Muslim community were presented to the authorities:
    • Profiling and targeting:
      While “detainees” are held under the guise of their immigration issues, they are frequently interrogated and threatened concerning terrorist activity. However, these men are simply being exploited for the association that their nationality and religion provides in the public mind. This sends a message to the Muslim community that you cannot be secure in this country even if you cooperate fully. Many are asked illegal or inappropriate questions during registration and pressured to submit irrelevant documents. American Muslims and Arabs also have the freedom to speak out.
    • Patterns in conduct of INS, FBI, local police, and the Terrorism Taskforce:
      • Agents involved in arrest do not identify themselves
      • No search warrants
      • No arrest warrants
      • Denial of counsel
      • Denial of phone calls
      • Agents stealing belongings from homes
      • Interrogations regarding political activism
      • Interrogations regarding "terrorism" involvement, or knowledge of others activities
      • Promises to release the detainee quickly if they give information, threats of indefinite or "years" of detention if they do not
      • Threats of torture
      • Torture
      • INS RI refusing to speak to lawyer, hanging up on him, not indicating charges for several days
      • INS Trecartin refusing to identify himself to callers, transferring callers to the mailboxes of junior officers when they called to speak to him
      • Denial of a hearing within 10 days of arrest
      • Deportation without a hearing
      • Refusal to implement a deportation once it has been ordered by a judge, so the detainee languishes in jail with no constitutional rights
    • Conditions in detention
      • Prisons and INS continually change rules and different answers on policy to intimidate and exhaust friends and family who attempt to support the detainee.
      • The prison will not provide any information where a detainee has been moved, they may indicate he has been released, your mail will be returned.
    • Lack of medical care or inappropriate and abusive treatment
    • Frequently moving inmates between facilities, disrupting their communications and relationships