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Wanted By The FBI - For A Job, That Is
The FBI was out in force at the 39th annual ISNA convention in Washington, DC, looking for a few good (Muslim) men & women.
By Shahed Amanullah, September 10, 2002
One of the more unusual sights that greeted attendees at this year's ISNA convention in Washington, DC was the presence of the FBI, gathered just outside the main entrance of the nation's largest Muslim convention. No, they weren't shutting down another charity or rounding up the usual suspects. They were there to look for a few good men & women to recruit. Less than a week after September 11, FBI director Robert Mueller issued an appeal for Arabic and Farsi speakers. The response was "extraordinary", Mr Mueller recently testified. FBI hotlines shut down under the sheer weight of calls. The good news is that Muslim leaders, and many of the 30,000 convention delegates, were delighted that the FBI asked to attend the convention for the first time in the event's 39-year history. The bad news is that many delegates, especially young Muslims, expressed suspicion that the FBI wanted them only because it needed insiders to spy on other Muslims. "If they're looking for translators, then definitely," remarked one 20-something Muslim. "But as long as they're not asking people to infiltrate their own communities."
Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.
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Hmm.....and we are supposed to trust ISNA when they are in bed with the FBI?
As for the comment "If they're looking for translators, then definitely," remarked one 20-something Muslim. "But as long as they're not asking people to infiltrate their own communities."
These are the comments you will get when the Muslims trust ISNA, ICNA, and CAIR. What do you think the FBI will have you do ? Translate recipes? Wake up Muslims. It is time to start thinking. Go back to the Quran and Sunnah, study Islam.
- Posted by mindseye on September 25, 2002 at 09:07 AM
Give them some credit. Letting the FBI recruit at an ISNA convention doesn't mean they are "in bed" with them. And the Muslims who do choose join the FBI should be able to back out if they feel they are being asked to betray their community. Otherwise, it's not the end of the world. And why does any of this negate "studying Islam" anyway? Humans can multi-task too.
Anyway, what is the alternative? For all the imperfect efforts of ISNA, CAIR, etc., nothing more specific is offered other than "study Islam." The Taliban studied Islam. So did the Saudis, Sheikh Kabbani, Ayatollah Khamenei, MPAC, the Turks, the Chechens, the Tabligh Jamaat, the Bosnians, al-Muhajiroun, and Osama bin Laden. And everyone practices Islam the same way.
Hey, thanks for the advice.
- Posted by groov-e (earth) on September 27, 2002 at 06:10 PM
Since when is it betraying your community to help track down terroists? If you continue to have an "us" against "them" mentality when it comes to your status as an American citizen, then you can expect more of the same: anti-Muslim sentiment from non-Muslim Americans. Learn a lesson from the "African-American" commuinity. They chose the term, and unfortunately, it will keep them from the desired goal of a non-racist society. As long as we Americans (and humans) continue to divide ourselves into racial groups and religous groups as our primary identifiers, we will not move forward to a society with liberty and justice for all. My grandparents were from Italy, but I don't call myself an Italian -American; I adhere to certain religous beliefs, but that doesn't preclude me from participation in society. I am an American, and if you are a citizen of this country then you are too. When you start to see yourself this way, you will see that fighting terrorism against America, is your business, just as much as anyone elses. Don't be so hypocritical. When Muslims are portrayed as terrorists you cry that that is not a true portrayal of the religion. When the FBI seeks to include you in its fight against that same enemy, you are suspicious and critical of any Muslim that may step forward and actually see himself as an American with the same goal: being able to live in a society where one can work and raise a family without fear of a suicide bomb going off.
- Posted by Martina on October 18, 2003 at 11:56 AM
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