(ANAHEIM,
CA, 10/22/10) - The Greater Los Angeles Area office of
the
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today thanked the
Los Angeles
County Sheriff's Department for launching an investigation
into
allegedly manipulative tactics employed by detectives to
pressure a local
Muslim to become an informant.
In the
past year, several sheriff's deputies raided the home and
the business
of the Riverside Muslim of Palestinian heritage several
times.
According
to a complaint letter sent to the sheriff's department by
CAIR-LA
Staff Attorney and Deputy Executive Director Ameena Qazi
last month,
the man was arrested and asked whether he considered himself
"a good or
bad Muslim, the number of times he prays a day, what mosque
he goes to,
and who the imam of the mosque is."
After
being jailed, the man was questioned by agents from
"Homeland Security"
about the Israel-Palestinian conflict, the war in Iraq and
President
Obama.
During
another raid on the Cerritos home of the man's mother,
deputies entered
with guns drawn and handcuffed family members, the youngest
of whom was
15 years old. Deputies asked questions "about the number of
times
they pray each day and the mosque they attend," the
complaint stated.
When the
man's mother was handcuffed, his brother objected and was
allegedly
kicked to the side by an officer. The man was again arrested
and
was questioned about "sleeper cells" and his acquaintances,
and told if
he provided detectives with information, they would make his
problems
with law enforcement "go away."
In yet
another raid on the man's Riverside home, his wife was handcuffed
and threatened with arrest, and she was placed in a police
vehicle
while her two toddlers were left inside the home with the
officers.
She too was asked about her religious practices, and
when she
explained that she delayed in opening the door for the officers
in order to cover herself with her hijab, or Islamic head
scarf, she was told "we come before your
religion."
CAIR-LA
representatives arrived at the man's home during the raid
and asked to
see search warrants and to monitor the situation.
Today,
the man's defense attorney filed a motion with the Riverside
Superior
Court claiming discriminatory prosecution. The man currently faces
charges of five felony counts and two misdemeanor
counts for sale of or possession with intent to sell counterfeit
merchandise with two enhancements, and has pleaded not guilty to
all counts. CAIR-LA is calling for the due process and civil rights
of the man to be upheld.
"We are
appalled by the apparent underlying reasons for the investigation,
and by the egregious conduct that took place during the
course of
the investigation," Qazi said. "We are glad the sheriff's
department
is looking into this matter, and hope that the
questions regarding
the conduct and whether the charges are discriminatory and
vindictive
in nature are addressed."
SEE:
CAIR: FBI Tracking of Calif.
Muslim Student 'Outrageous'
Also late last month, CAIR-LA renewed call for a probe into the
FBI's
'coercive'
tactics after charges were dropped against a Tustin man
unfairly
targeted by the FBI.
SEE:
Feds to Drop Charges against
Muslim Man Unfairly Targeted by the 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-LA Communications Manager Munira Syeda, 714-776-1847,
or
714-851-4851;
E-mail: info@losangeles.cair.com
