Muslims in the US forced to spy on other Muslims [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

Muslims in the US forced to spy on other Muslims

uploaded 15 Sep 2003


Some Muslims in the US complain that since 9/11 they've felt pressured to spy on people they know
September 11, 2003 Thursday


Since the terrorist attacks two years ago today, federal law enforcement officials have sought to improve their intelligence among the country's Muslims. One way has been to recruit informants, but in some cases, Muslims complain they've been pressured to spy on people they know and threatened with retribution if the refuse. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports.

JENNIFER LUDDEN reporting:

Two years ago, Ablikadr Ali(ph) had a flourishing money transfer company, or hawala, in northern Virginia. Following the 9/11 attacks, federal authorities raided his business and froze his accounts. After months of investigation, there were no charges, but a federal prosecutor, and then the FBI, kept asking to meet with Ali, a Somali refugee who'd become a US citizen. They had a proposition.

Mr. ABLIKADR ALI (Somali Refugee): They say we want you to spy the Somali community and to know who has the legal papers, who doesn't have it, who came from Canada, who's not paying his tax, how much money they make, you know, all this kind of stuff.

LUDDEN: Ali says authorities wanted to put a hidden camera in his shop and meet with him three times a week at a secret location. When he refused, Ali says his real troubles began.

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http://www.khilafah.com/home/category.php?DocumentID=8262&TagID=2

NPR's "Morning Edition" audio:

http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1427735