Anti-discrimination committee reviews with US administration patriot act
Regional-USA, Politics, 12/22/2001

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), referred to representatives of the US Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, community concerns regarding the USA Patriot Act, the ADC says in a report e-mailed to MAP.

The meeting was attended by a number of representatives from the DOJ, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Were also present representatives from ADC, the Islamic Institute, the Arab-American Institute, and the American Muslim Council and other groups.

Participants heard an overview of the USA Patriot Act, and raised concerns about the newly expanded detention powers of the Attorney General under various provisions of the law, the issues of material support and guilt by association and the overly broad statutory definition of terrorist activity.

The group also addressed the nationwide voluntary interviews of approximately 5,000 Middle Eastern men based solely on their gender, age, and national origin. The attendees stressed the responsibility of the government to provide notice to Arab-American and Muslim communities about organizations perceived to be suspect by the DOJ and urged the government to work with these communities in a constructive manner. The group also requested that the government provide status-immunity for those who want to volunteer for questioning but are afraid to come forward because of minor immigration status violations.

Previous Stories:
  New U.S. TV messages target Arab-Muslim stereotyping   (12/21/2001)
  The American military campaign, Syria, Iran and Iraq   (12/18/2001)
  Arab League denounces the 'American' veto   (12/17/2001)

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