CAIR ALERT: REPORTS OF FBI VISITS PROMPT REMINDER OF LEGAL RIGHTS - TOP (LOS ANGELES, CA, 1/20/10) -- The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) said today that CAIR offices nationwide have received reports that FBI agents, along with local law enforcement officers, are visiting and interviewing Muslim students and participants in a recent Islamic educational seminar in connection with an ongoing investigation. American Muslims strongly support law enforcement and the protection of our national security. As Americans, we also value the civil rights of every individual. All Americans have the constitutional right of due process and to be politically active. If you know of any criminal activity taking place in your community, it is both your religious and civic duty to immediately report such activity to local and federal law enforcement agencies. Considering recent events, and the increase in FBI/Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF, including officers from the Department of Homeland Security and local police or sheriff departments) related incidents reported to our office, it is important that Muslims understand their rights when visited by FBI/JTTF at their home or workplace: 1) Understand that your providing information to the FBI/JTTF, absent a subpoena, is strictly voluntary. You are not obligated under law to answer any of their questions, other than giving your name and sometimes your address. 2) You may choose to have an attorney accompany or represent you for any interview or questioning. It is a good idea to consult with an attorney regarding the risks and benefits of being interviewed by law enforcement in your specific case. 3) If an FBI/JTTF agent shows up at your residence or workplace, and they do not have a search or arrest warrant and absent exigent circumstances, you do not have to let them in. 4) If they do have an arrest or search warrant, you may exercise your right to remain silent. Comply with all directives and do not physically resist an officer. Be polite and respectful at all times. 5) If an agent or officer says they have some questions for you, you have the right to refuse to speak to them and/or you may tell the agents or officers that you will have your attorney contact them if they wish to speak to you. 6) Note that anything you say to an agent or officer can be used against you in a court of law, and lying to an agent or officer is considered perjury and is a criminal offense. 7) Should you decide to speak to agents alone despite the risks, note that you may set the conditions of the interview, including choosing when and where the interview is to take place, having a third party present such as a family member or community leader, and deciding what questions to answer, and refusing to sign any documents. You may cancel the interview at any time. 8) Get the names, agencies, badge numbers, and business cards of ALL agents or officers. 9) Contact your attorney and CAIR to report the interview/incident and to discuss next steps. If you feel that your civil rights were violated, you may also file a complaint with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. MORE RESOURCES: 1. "FBI Interviews: Knowing the law can protect you" by Ahilan Arulanantham and Ranjana Natarajan. InFocus News. 2. "Got Rights: Protect yourself and your family at home and at the airport" a video by Muslim Advocates. 3. To file a complaint with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Divisionhttp://www.justice.gov/crt/split/complaints.php [Please note: This above is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Should you have any questions about the material herein or about a specific case, please consult with your attorney.] CONTACT: CAIR-Greater Los Angeles Area Communications Manager Munira Syeda, 714-776-1847 or 714 -851-4851, E-mail: info@losangeles.cair.com ----- CAIR WELCOMES LIFTING OF BAN ON MUSLIM SCHOLAR - TOP State Department will now permit Tariq Ramadan to enter U.S. (WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/20/10) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today welcomed a decision by the U.S. Department of State to lift a ban that prevented Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan from entering the United States for the past five years. SEE: Anti-War Muslim Scholar Says U.S. Ban Lifted (Reuters) US Government Lifts Ban on Tariq Ramadan An order signed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reverses a July 2004 decision by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to revoke the visa of Ramadan, a respected scholar and author who was due to begin teaching at the University of Notre Dame that fall. Although the DHS cited security concerns as its reason for the visa revocation, CAIR and othercivil liberties organizations saw it as a form of censorship that fit a pattern of denying visas to foreign nationals whose political views were not in favor with the U.S. government. In 2006, the ACLU and the New York Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit challenging the “ideological exclusion” of Dr. Ramadan on behalf of the American Academy of Religion, theAmerican Association of University Professors and the PEN American Center. SEE: CAIR Calls for Reversal of Prof's Visa Revocation (2004) ACLU in Court Wednesday in Challenge to Ideological Exclusion of Tariq Ramadan “We welcome this move by the Obama administration to permit a respected scholar and voice for religious moderation to enter our country,” said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. “This is a step toward beginning to repair the damage to our image among Muslims worldwide.” CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com ----- CAIR URGES PENTAGON TO DROP GUN SIGHTS WITH BIBLE VERSES - TOP Biblical references inscribed on sights called ‘recruiting tool for anti-American forces’ (WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/20/2010) A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today called revelations that gun sights used by the U.S. military are inscribed with Biblical references a “potential recruiting tool for anti-American forces” and urged the Pentagon to withdraw the sights from combat use. SEE: Pentagon: Bible-Verse Gunsights Don't Violate Rules (USA Today) CAIR-MI: Wixom Firm Defends Rifle Sights with Bible Verses (Detroit Free Press) The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the continued use of the sights with the religious references would send a negative message to the Muslim world. “The use of military equipment with hidden Bible references sends the false message to Muslims worldwide that we are at war with Islam,” said CAIR Legal Counsel Nadhira Al-Khalili. “In addition, these sights are a potential recruiting tool for anti-American forces, endanger our troops and alienate our Muslim allies. They should we withdrawn as soon as logistically possible.” CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com ----- CAIR SEEKS PROBE OF TORTURE CLAIMS BY AMERICANS DETAINED IN PAKISTAN - TOP (WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/20/10) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called for an investigation of allegations by five Americans detained in Pakistan that they have been subjected to torture. The five young men from Virginia were arrested last month in Pakistan. Following a court appearance on Monday, the men shouted to reporters that they were being tortured. One of their representatives also said the men told the judge that they are not being allowed to be represented by an attorney of their choice. SEE: After Hearing in Pakistan, 5 Americans Allege Torture (NY Times) “These are serious allegations by American citizens and they need to be investigated by U.S. State Department and law enforcement officials who are working on the case,” said CAIRNational Executive Director Nihad Awad. Late last year, the parents of the now-detained men informed CAIR of their disappearance. CAIR put them in touch with the FBI and, along with the families and Muslim community leaders, worked to assist the agency as the investigation moved forward. CAIR also assisted the families in obtaining legal representation to make sure their constitutional rights were protected. CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com ----- CAIR-LA: CALIF. MUSLIM RADIO STATION RECEIVES ‘AVALANCHE OF ANTI-ISLAM COMMENTS’ - TOP By Cindy Carcamo, The Orange County Register, 1/19/10 The first English-only Muslim radio station of its kind in the Western world plans to devote an entire show Wednesday to address what the owner calls an "avalanche of anti-Islam comments" in reaction to an OCRegister.com story about the station's Irvine debut. "We didn't expect so much negative comments...," the station's owner Nour Matar said. "We want to expand this dialogue and invite people to listen and connect with us." At noon, OneLegacyradio.com will host Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Anaheim office. Ayloush plans to speak about Islam and the importance of blogging, hoping to educate and continue the dialogue with non-Muslims and those in the Muslim community. The story, which posted online last week, had more than 65 comments online. (More)