DEARBORN — With the prospect of the U.S. Department of Justice passing new guidelines for targeting suspects based partly on ethnicity looming, Arab community leaders are concerned about the possibility of unfair treatment.
The possible guidelines would allegedly give the FBI the ability to "investigate Americans without any evidence of wrongdoing, relying instead on a terrorist profile that could single out Muslims, Arabs or other racial and ethnic groups" according to an Associated Press/ABC News story entitled "Racial Profiling Eyed for Terror Probes" that was published July 2, 2008.
In response to an inquiry about the ABC News story, Department of Justice National Security Division Spokesman Dean Boyd issued a statement via e-mail:
"We are not considering revising the Attorney General's Guidelines on the use of race, or our traditional respect for First Amendment activities, as reflected in our current guidelines and practices.
"Moreover, these guidelines could not, and would not purport to, circumvent constitutional limitations on the use of race, religion, or other protected classes in all manners of investigations. At the end of the day, the FBI is not going to open an investigation solely on the basis of race, ethnicity, or religion."
The Justice Department is in the process of reviewing the guidelines, however, in order to become a "better collector of intelligence," steps that have been underway since the attacks of 9/11.
Dearborn lawyer and Chairman of the Michigan Advisory Board for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), Nabih Ayad, warns that members of the Arab community should be vigilant against any possible rights violations.
"I've handled many terrorism-related cases," said Ayad. "We've seen in the past where the government labeled a case terrorist-related when all it was was post-9/11 paranoia. This (presidential) administration has a certain idea of, you know, 'Just in case, let's lock them up.'"
Ayad also recommends that anyone who feels that a government agent has overstepped their boundaries should report to the ADC or the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
But perhaps most importantly, he also recommended that members of the Arab community contact their local, state, and federal representatives to let them know they demand equal treatment in regards to any possible investigations.
"I still feel that this community needs to take a proactive role and every time anyone is subject to this policy and laws, to take action to challenge them," he said. "Seven years after 9/11, this community is still being targeted by the administration without justifiable basis. We are the easy target in this war on terror."
Meanwhile, the ADC is working with local and national officials to voice the concerns of the community.
"We are in active communication with the U.S. Department of Justice, FBI headquarters and local attorney offices here; they've been very candid and cordial about the discussion," said Imad Hamad, Regional Director of the ADC.
When the Department of Justice finalizes the guidelines, Hamad said the ADC will address the Arab community to make sure people know exactly what they will entail.
"It's almost impossible to debate something about which you don't know the details and facts," he said about the possible guidelines. "At this point it's a serious concern. We don't want to speculate or rush to judgment; however, the (ABC News) story is very, very serious in nature."
Hamad encourages people to call the ADC at 313.581.1201 to report any possible instances of wrongdoing, and urged people to sit down with a lawyer to learn their legal rights in the event of any accusations.
"I will not have people panic and be too concerned or afraid," said Hamad. "We've had prior challenges similar to this and our community prevailed. I have no doubt this is one of those challenges that our community will overcome again."
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