FBI surveillance a hot topic at Muslim conference

December 24, 2005 (WLS) -- The government has revealed that federal agents have been monitoring radiation levels in several cities around the country, including Chicago. Agents have focused their efforts at places Muslims are known to visit or live. That news has outraged many members of the Muslim community.

Thousands of Muslim-Americans are gathered at Chicago's Hyatt Regency for an annual summit. It continues through Monday and is meant to celebrate the Muslim faith. But, coincidentally, it comes at the same time that news of the radiation monitoring program is disclosed. Some of those in attendance say the purpose of this program is to guard the population against nuclear threats. But many at the convention are outraged, because they say most of the surveillance is directed at them.

"We are adamant about ridding our society from the scourge of terrorism and standing against it, but at the same time we want to see civil liberties of Americans preserved," said Dr. Esam Omeish, Muslim American Society.

That was the response from the Muslim American Society's convention to the news that government investigators have been secretly monitoring radiation levels at places frequented by Muslims.

The program started after 9/11, and while the Justice Department will only say that "the FBI does not target any particular individual or group based on the group's lawful activities, political or religious beliefs," government officials acknowledge that investigators working without warrants have hunted for nuclear material outside private places, like parking lots and driveways.

Deedra Abboud spoke Friday at the Hyatt Regency during the weekend convention, and while the purpose of the 7,000-strong gathering is partly to make Muslims feel more comfortable living in this country, Abboud says it's hard when laws like the Patriot Act result in Muslims being targeted so openly.

"We have a major problem with the Patriot Act. We are OK with national security. We are even OK with spying on suspected terrorists," said Deedra Abboud, convention speaker.

Many Muslims argue that whether such surveillance is legal or not really is not the issue.

"These are things that need to be dealt with, because in the final analysis, if we surrender our precious civil liberties, the things that make this nation great, then indeed the terrorists have won," said Mahdi Bray, Muslim American Society.

Protection efforts have included areas around modification as well as ports, warehouses, businesses, and stores. So far, however, they have apparently turned out nothing. The subject will probably continue to be a hot topic, though, at the weekend's Muslim American Society's convention.

Reverend Jesse Jackson is demanding the bush Administration release the names of those people who were put under surveillance.

Saturday at Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters, Jackson called on congress to expose the names. He believes the secret surveillance by the government only adds to the fear and anxiety about the war on terror.

Jackson is urging congress to hold hearings on the surveillance once they return in the new year.

Get more News »

• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•