CAIR: Civil Liberties Groups Seek Withdrawal of Anti-Shariah Bill Tenn. Lawmakers Urged to Withdraw Bill Targeting Sharia - MEDIA ADVISORY – CAIR: Calif. Muslim to Sue FBI for Secret GPS Surveillance FBI planted tracking device on plaintiff's car without warrant (WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/1/11) –- On Wednesday, March 2, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will hold a noon news conference in Washington, D.C., to announce a lawsuit against the FBI for violating the constitutional rights of Yasir Afifi, a Santa Clara, Calif., Muslim who discovered a secret GPS tracking device on his car. Afifi is one of only a few people known to have found an FBI tracking device on their vehicle. Last fall, he made news nationwide when a mechanic discovered the device under his car. A friend posted pictures of the device online, asking if anyone knew what it was. FBI agents later appeared at Afifi's door and demanded that the device be returned to the bureau. Video: Is the FBI Using GPS Devices to Spy on Muslims? Caught Spying on Student, FBI Demands GPS Tracker Back Afifi is scheduled to attend the news conference along with a representative of CAIR's San Francisco Bay Area chapter (CAIR-SFBA). WHAT: News Conference Announcing Lawsuit Against FBI for Warrantless Surveillance of Calif. Muslim WHEN: Wednesday, March 2, Noon WHERE: CAIR's Capitol Hill Headquarters, 453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. CONTACT: CAIR Staff Attorney Gadeir Abbas, 720-251-0425, E-Mail: gabbas@cair.com; CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo, 626-252-0885, E-Mail: zbilloo@cair.com Last week, CAIR's Greater Los Angeles Area chapter (CAIR-LA) and the ACLU of Southern California announced a federal class action lawsuit against the FBI for illegal surveillance of the Muslim community. SEE: Suit Accuses F.B.I. of Spying at Mosques in California (NY Times) CAIR says it receives regular reports from the American Muslim community about FBI actions that are perceived as intimidating or unconstitutional. SEE: St. Louis-Area Somalis Feel Intimidated by FBI 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. - END - CONTACT: CAIR Staff Attorney Gadeir Abbas, 720-251-0425, E-Mail: gabbas@cair.com; CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo, 626-252-0885, E-Mail: zbilloo@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, or 202-488-8787, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787,202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com