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This is an incident which has galvanized community organizations here in NY.
The arrests continue the law enforcement tactic we’ve seen used on thousands of Muslim immigrants post-9/11 ? the use of immigration law as a pretext for arresting people. The FBI then interrogates the suspects about terrorism without the presence of a lawyer, without having to name any evidence or charge. As immigration law expert Cyrus Mehta has said, this method of arresting people on suspicion, then deciding how or whether to charge them, “turns our Consititution on its head.”
Holding a teenage girl prisoner so she can be questioned, with no one to monitor the situation, is an extreme tactic. The FBI has publicly stated that there is no serious belief that these girls present a threat. If no solid grounds to interrogate these girls about terrorism surfaces, then this incident will ultimately bring shame on our government.
[ NOTE: Regular updates on the case of the two 16-year old girls are availableat http://detainthis.blogspot.com ]
Here is a statement from CAIR-NY on the arrests:
CAIR-NY shares in the Muslim community?s deep concern over the recent arrest and detention of two 16-year-old Muslim girls from New York City. Despite the continuing protests by immigrant and civil rights communities following 9/11, the Federal government?s implementation of ethnic and religious profiling and its use of immigration proceedings to circumvent the constitutional protections of the criminal justice system persist.
Following 9/11, CAIR-NY and other civil rights organizations witnessed firsthand the government?s targeting of Muslim men for investigations, false accusations, detentions, and deportations. Immigrant Muslim men were singled out for Special Registration, solely on the basis of their national origins, and thousands were deported from this country as a result of this program.
Despite the vigorous surveillance and crack-down on our communities, however, the Federal government?s efforts have not resulted in any successful terrorism prosecutions, nor have they shown any evidence that these methods have made America safer for anyone.
Today, it appears that the profiling of Muslim men has grown to include Muslim women and children. In this case, two minors are being linked to terrorism based at least in part on their interest in and observance of the Islamic religion. In one of the cases, a girl was questioned by FBI agents, at one point posing as youth counselors, without the advice or presence of an attorney.
Neither of the girls has been formally charged with any crime, but both have been detained indefinitely in facilities far away from their homes and families. Their hearings are held in secret. Any substantive evidence against them has yet to be revealed.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the conditions in the girls? detention facility, including reports that their ability to observe religious practices has been restricted. Given the Federal government?s previous track record and manner in which these two cases have been handled thus far, CAIR-NY and the Muslim community are justifiably outraged at the government?s continuing disregard for the civil rights of American Muslims.
As a community-based civil rights organization, we sincerely hope that these cases do not develop into a new example of baseless religious profiling and unfair targeting of American Muslims, both of which have become disturbingly frequent in post-9/11 America. Cases involving minors necessarily require heightened attention to their treatment during detention, their access to legal advice and social support services, and the need to come to a swift and just conclusion. CAIR-NY calls upon all community organizations and elected officials to join us in closely monitoring the legal and humanitarian issues in both cases to see that justice is done for these young girls.
If you’d like to be apprised of the grassroots efforts supporting the girls and their families, please contact CAIR-NY.
