FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR Seeks 'Independent and Thorough' Probe
Into Shooting Death of Usaama Rahim 

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/3/15) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for an "independent and thorough" investigation into the fatal shooting of Usaama Rahim by Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) agents in Boston yesterday.

SEE: Man Under Surveillance by Terror Investigators Is Shot Dead (NY Times)
CAIR-Boston: Law Enforcement Officials Screen Surveillance Video of Rahim Shooting for Clergy, Activists

Usaama Rahim, 26, was shot Tuesday morning outside of a Boston CVS store. Conflicting reports have emerged as to why he was approached by the agents and how he was shot. Surveillance video of the encounter and additional details have not yet been released. 

In a statement, CAIR National Civil Rights Litigation Director Jenifer Wicks said:

"It is our duty to question every police-involved shooting to determine if the use of deadly force was necessary, particularly given the recent high profile shootings of African-American men. We are asking for an independent and thorough investigation, public release of the video and transparency, not only about the killing of Usaama Rahim, but also about the basis of monitoring and surveillance, which had not resulted in probable cause for any arrest or search warrant.

"The alleged conspiracy to murder a police officer is deeply troubling and yet another reason why transparency in this incident is crucial."

Wicks noted that this incident comes just days after CAIR's Los Angeles chapter raised questions about Long Beach, Calif., police killing of 20-year old Feras Mourad. It also comes in the wake of a recent report that more than 550 law-enforcement killings were not included in FBI statistics between 2007 and 2012.

SEE: CAIR-LA Seeks 'Transparent' Probe of LBPD Fatal Shooting of Unarmed Student
Report: Hundreds of Police Killings Not Reported to FBI

CAIR is the nation'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. 

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CONTACT: CAIR National Civil Rights Litigation Director Jenifer Wicks, 202-640-4934, [email protected]; CAIR-National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, Email: [email protected]



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