CAIR Lawyers Mobilize to Defend Muslims on No-Fly List
- Posted on August 15, 2011 at 10:45pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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McLEAN, Va. (The Blaze/AP) — The calls have reached a point of repetitive regularity for civil rights lawyer Gadeir Abbas: A young Muslim American, somewhere in the world, is barred from boarding an airplane.
The exact reasons are never fully articulated, but the reality is clear. The traveler has been placed on the government’s terror watchlist – or the more serious no-fly list – and clearing one’s name becomes a legal and bureaucratic nightmare.
On Monday Abbas sent letters to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and FBI Director Robert Mueller requesting assistance for his two most recent clients. One is a resident of Portland, Ore. who is trying to fly to Italy to live with his mother. The other, a teenager and U.S. citizen living in Jordan, has been unable to travel to Connecticut to lead prayers at a mosque.
“All American citizens have the unqualified right to reside in the United States,” Abbas wrote Monday in a letter to secretary of State Hillary Clinton seeking a change in status for the client in Jordan.
Abbas, a lawyer with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, tries to piece together the reason why a client has been placed on the list. Perhaps a person has a similar name to a known terrorist. Maybe their travels to Yemen or some other Middle East hot spot have garnered suspicion. Maybe they told the FBI to take a hike when they requested an interview.
Ultimately, though, the reasons are almost irrelevant. From Abbas’ perspective, the placement on the no-fly list amounts to a denial of a traveler’s basic rights: U.S. citizens can’t return home from overseas vacations, children are separated from parents, and those under suspicion are denied the basic due process rights that would allow them to clear their name.
Abbas describes the security bureaucracy as Kafkaesque, a labyrinthine maze of overlapping agencies, all of which refuse to provide answers unless they are threatened with legal action. One lawsuit is still pending in federal court in Alexandria, Va. That case has followed what has become a familiar pattern: Abbas either files a lawsuit or exposes the case to public scrutiny through the media, and within a few days the individual in question is able to travel. Government officials then ask a judge to dismiss any lawsuits that were filed, saying the cases are now moot.
“The amount of people who experience tragic, life-altering travel delays is significant,” said Abbas, who estimates he gets a call at least once a month from a Muslim American in dire straits because their travel has been restricted.
Government officials, of course, see it differently. They say they have a Traveler Redress Inquiry Program that lets people wrongly placed on the no-fly list, or the much broader terrorist watchlist, fix their circumstances.
More broadly, the government has argued in court that placing somebody on the no-fly list does not deprive them of any constitutional rights. Just because a person can‘t fly doesn’t mean they can’t travel, the government lawyers argue. They can always take a boat, for example.
“Neither Plaintiff nor any other American citizen has either a right to international travel or a right to travel by airplane,” government lawyers wrote in their defense against a lawsuit by another of Abbas’ clients. The teenager from Virginia had found himself stuck in Kuwait after suspicions about has travel to Somalia apparently landed him on the no-fly list.
Exactly how many people are on the government’s lists is unclear. Some of the most recent estimates, from late 2009, state that about 400,000 individuals are on the “watchlist,“ which requires a ”reasonable suspicion” that the person is known or suspected to be engaged in terrorist activities. A much smaller number – about 14,000 – is on the “selectee list,” meaning they will likely have to undergo rigorous screening to travel. And officials estimated that 3,400 individuals, including roughly 170 U.S. residents, are on the no-fly list.
Calls and emails to the Department of Homeland Security and State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs were not returned.
Michael Migliore was told by security officials last month that he is on the no-fly list after he tried to take a flight from Portland, Ore., to Italy following his college graduation. Migliore, a Muslim and a dual citizen of the U.S. and Italy, was planning a permanent move to Italy to live with his mother.
Migliore, 23, suspects he was placed on the no-fly list after he refused to talk to the FBI without a lawyer in November 2010, when the bureau was investigating an acquaintance charged in a plot to detonate bomb at a Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
“I feel that I did the right thing,” Migliore said of his decision to exercise his rights when questioned by the FBI. “I didn’t do anything wrong. … It’s very frustrating, not knowing what’s going to happen, if I’m ever going to get off this list.”
For now, he’s waiting in Portland until he can get his name cleared for travel.
In another case, an 18 year-old U.S. citizen living in Jordan with his parents was bounced from an EgyptAir flight to New York. Amr Abulrub had planned to lead Ramadan prayers at a Connecticut mosque.
After a few days of confusion, Abulrub learned from airline officials that the U.S. government had instructed EgyptAir to cancel his ticket. U.S. embassy officials in Amman have subsequently told Abulrub he can travel under certain restrictions, including a requirement that his flight to the U.S. be booked on an American airline. But Abulrub is leery of traveling at all for fear that he won’t be allowed to go back to Jordan.
Abulrub’s father, Jalal Abulrub, suspects his son has come to the attention of U.S. authorities because of his own writings. Jalal is a Salafist scholar who has sometimes written provocative articles and antagonized Christian evangelists he believed were disrespectful to Muslims. While Jalal says his family is Salafist – generally considered a fundamentalist sect of Islam – he is quick to point out that he has a long history of writing in opposition to the ideology espoused by Osama bin laden and al-Qaida.
“I am not going to let this go,” Jalal said, referring to his son’s inability to travel. “We don’t allow anyone to oppress us.”




















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Comments (60)
Keven_M_Thomas
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 6:30amI’ve lived in the middle east for two years. I lived with a muslim family for a while. If you think for a minute thats a good religion your sadly mistaken. WHen they told me one night while eating dinner that the Koran was very good and the Bible was very bad and evil, I moved onto the base. These were hard working moderate muslims. How do I know? They didn’t try yo kill me or my family. THe goal of that religion is to take over the world and make the world in the eyes ALLAH. You dirtbags that think otherwise better wise up. That’s why these so called peaceful muslims are in every country trying to slowly put there religion ahead of all others.
Report Post »Jack2011
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 7:20amRick Perry is a Bildeberg RINO and NWO. Perry is NO different than Obama. Rick Perry has been SELECTED to win the election if Obama tanks! Watch Alex Jones, “Endgame”.
http://www.infowars.com/endgame-the-hq-full-length-version-now-online/
NuffSaid
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 7:27amThank you Kevin. It is what it is. No amount of liberal understanding or expectation of “the best from people” can change “what it is.”
These are genocidal racists and I can respect that. No man is required to love or even care for another man. Primitive, genetically inferior races, like the Asia Minor aryans, are incapable of seeing a world which looks any different from there’s
Years ago, the “ugly American” was a popular topic in decadent, perverted salons of Europe. Essentially the “ugy American” was a barbarian. The Japanese describe barbarian is “one who believes the ways of his people are the ways of all people.”
Recall the Marine general in “Full Metal Jacket” who said, “Inside every Viet Namese is an American trying to get out.”
The tongue tied liberals, now infesting this country believe that , similarly, the muz are just Allah loving innocents with and American inside, trying to get out“ ”That’s cool,.” liberals, women and teachers will say. “Cool” is what will get you killed in the rest of the world.
Thanks for your story.
Report Post »Alaren
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 7:55amTo Kevin, I believe most people know that Islam isn’t all sunshine and lollypops as the media would have us believe.
Report Post »And to Jack…seriously, go post your Perry theories, thoughts and links on a story that actually has to do with Perry…
loriann12
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 8:11amI’m still on the fence about Perry (from someone living in Texas for almost 6 years). You have to realize in regards to Al Gore, 1988 was before he lost his mind to tree hugging. He realized he could make money off the green movement. He used to be a conservative Democrat (I know that sounds like an Oxymoron, but there used to be those around). He was against abortion, for lower taxes, etc. He’s a different animal now that the wackos have come out of the woodwork.
Have you ever considered the fact that maybe the press has caught on to the idea that they can smear people we aren’t sure about and get them disregarded?
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 9:14amYo Jack2011;
Report Post »Hello, I am famillar with this video. Not sure why you call him a rino, but there is something that is bothering me about him. I’ll be watching.
db321
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:16amJackPot2011 – Your right and wrong – Obama will Tank but your wrong Perry is not a plant – stick with slamming the Tea Party you Liberal – The Tea Party is use to it, but Perry will fight back. Besides why does the whole nation have to go with less than 10% of the Country that want a Socialistic Transformation of the US.
Report Post »C. Schwehr
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:20amModerate or otherwise, I really don’t trust islamists anymore and consider CAIR to be nothing more than a terrorist front organization which itself should be entered onto the “no-fly” list, lock-stock-and barrel!
Report Post »LearnFromTheGiants
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 4:39amI share the same level of respect for Islam as their followers have for Christianity. Can you read between the lines?
Report Post »johnpaulkuchtajr
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 3:33amOK,what is about being named to a list of 264 “unindicted co-conspirators” from the Holy Land Foundation terror trial that seems to be way beyond the reading comprehension level of a number of Americans? CAIR, ISNA and NAIT were named by Judge Jorge Solis to the list because the judge had heard wire tap evidence or sworn testimony from FBI agents that the individuals named to the list had been involved in financially supporting Hamas.
HAMAS, HAMAS, HAMAS. Got it? Forget about the FBI investigating these slugs while Obama is in power. Holder has turned off the power of the FBI and has even moved to terminate active investigations of those on the list. Google all this treason if you don‘t believe me because you won’t hear about it on any mainstream media outlet, especially not FOX since they are 7% owned by Saudi Prince Talal. I suspect that’s why Beck moved off the network. Like “The Hammer” used to say “Can’t touch this!”
Report Post »NuffSaid
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 7:33amGood thought!
We need to make sure that there is an election next year. If it starts to look iffy, we’ll all need to act quickly, early and boldly.
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 2:24amThe Hamas-linked CAIR lawyers are always involved when it comes to defending terrorists. They are terrorists in suits, that’s all. Aided and abetted by the Leftists and their vile MSM who just lap up every sugar-coated word they utter.
They’ve been litigating us to death in order to silence us while they are killing us. That’s what they excel in.
They‘ve been doing this sort of thing for fourteen centuries now and they’ve killed over 270 million non-Muslims and they’ve subjugated countless others who pay them the jizya (Muslim tax) and still the world looks on. They are committing genocide against the Christians all over the world, and still the world looks on, and the Leftist media, who have partnered with them in their treachery, continues to aid and abet them.
CAIR is the silencer. The new Soviet Gulag. And as the Muslim Brotherhood has said in their Muslim Brotherhood Plan that was captured in an FBI sting some time ago, they plan to sabotage our “miserable house” from within.
It won’t be long now until they impose their Sharia on all of us and declare the U.S. Constitution null and void. After all, our government is full of dhimmis who are more than happy to give them their Supremacist’s status of special privileges.
They’re allowing them to build their victory mosque near Ground Zero, aren’t they. And if that wasn’t enough of a slap in the face, they have built a 9/11 museum which includes their Terrorist’s Wall of Fame.
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 2:35amTime to take this crap seriously.
Please email Allen West and ask him to run for President…
Report Post »https://forms.house.gov/west/webforms/contact-form.shtml
It’s time for real leadership in D.C.
johnpaulkuchtajr
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 3:44amYep, all accurate. Sounds like you should read “Muslim Mafia” by Dave Gaubatz. Learn about John Miller, formerly a big deal (spokesman) at the FBI, now with the office of Director of National Intelligence, who had the quirky habit of calling CAIR‘s DC office to alert them to FBI raids so that CAIR could send representatives to the raid and monitor the FBI agents’ “sensitivities” to the Muslim culture. I just wonder what sort of tricks old Miller is up to these days? Considering that his new boss, James Clapper, is the guy who testified to a congressional committee that the Muslim Brotherhood is largely a secular organization and you have the recipe for quite a nasty pudding! Oh, in case you forgot, “The Clap,” as I refer to him, is also the guy Diane Sawyer caught flat-footed 8 hours after a nation-wide sweep in the UK of suspected terrorists. Yep, “The Clap” didn’t know squat about the raid. Feel safer now?
Report Post »Drakkhanlord
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 1:57amIs it Time to Kick the Tires and Light the Fires…?
Can we Finally Throw all The Corrupt Sobs OUT…?
“” God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty…. And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure. “”
ThomasJ.
“Perhaps Today is a good Day to dle”…(Worf).
Report Post »NuffSaid
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 1:53amIf I wasn’t sure, I’d suspect that Blaze is trying to piss me off.
Report Post »Talmid of Yeshua
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 1:11amEvery single Muslim on the planet should be on the no-fly and terrorist watch list. Islam is a conquering and imperialistic religion-politcal movement with the sole aim of destroying anything un-Islamic. It’s a disgusting, Satanic movement, and when Yehsua returns, Islam will be thrown into the Lake of Fire and destroyed once and for all.
Report Post »Ron_WA
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 1:30amIf ever one had a reason to hate Muslims in general I do. Too many wars over there; too many comrades in arms lost; permanent injuries; fighting the silent war even when not in “the box” but I also recognize not all Muslims like not all Christians or members of other “religions” are a$$=holes, religious zealots, or “crusaders”.
I try evaluate to each person for what they do not for “what they are”. Only an idgit would label all Christians as which burners & supporters of the inquisition – ya can’t be so narrow minded as to label all Muslims as radical jihadists – but if you do …
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 6:35amTALMIID OF YESHUA…yes..won’t that be glorious….and it is going to happen, praise be and thanks to God. I understand that the muslims have even built a graveyard by I believe the Temple Mount.,because they are afraid of Jesus coming back and think that he would not walk across a graveyard. Have you ever read Epicenter by Joel Rosenburg? This is a brief but important synopsis of it.
Report Post »http://www.bibleguidance.co.za/Engarticles/Epicenter.htm
Quixotic-911
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:11amHey Ron-Wa News flash! The radical muslims are the christianized ones preaching “peace, peace”. The true muslims , the fundamentalist that follow the teachings of the Koran and the example of the prophet Mohamed, cry “war,war”. Unless they’re lying of course. Pure and simple the jihadist ARE THE ONLY TRUE MUSLIMS ! ! ! !
Report Post »nightmar
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 12:20amthere are many innovative things to do with these boy loving muslim freaks
Report Post »nightmar
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 12:18ami have always prayed for mecca and medina to turn to glass after an enormous explosion of the earth under them, god willing
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 12:14amCair is an anti-American shill of an organization.. Get a legitimate attorney and come back with your own credentials as to your anti-radical Islam activities. If you are not with us you are against us. This goes for every Muslim on the planet who has failed to stand against radical Islam for whatever reason. Cowards who fear retribution bee to stand up more than anyone..
Report Post »M 4 Colt
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 12:05amTrust me it takes an act of God to get your name removed from the list and even then they will not remove it. Case in point my dad has been on the list since 2001, we contacted John McCain for help and all we got was lip service and told that he would look into it and get back to us. Well lets see now it’s been 10 years and NOTHING, NO HELP no change in my dad being on the no fly list so much for our senator helping us. Just an FYI my dad is a vet fought for this country in WW11, Korea and Vietnam he was awarded the silver star, two bronzes stars and the CIB with two stars and hes on the no fly list what a bunch of crap!
Report Post »libertydoc
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 1:25amwhat you are not telling us all is why he is on the list? I am a veteran or Iraq and Afghanistan and I am not on the list. What gives?
Report Post »NuffSaid
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 1:58amUr full of it- WW2, Korea AND VN? He doesn’t need and airplane- He oughta have wings of his own by now except that he’s a muz.
(That record would put a guy in the service for 30 years as a private-yuk yuk…
M4 Colt- You are probably AK 47 Camel
Report Post »M 4 Colt
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 2:57amLibdoc they never gave us a reason why my father was placed on the no fly list.Thats why we contacted John McCain thinking that since he was a Military man that he would be willing to check into this but as i said before we got no help at all from him.
Nuffsaid my family has always served this country to protect it’s freedoms, my dad is now in his 80′s he join the army in 1944 and served for 24 years and got out in 1968 as a First Sargent and saw combat in all three wars more then you have EVER done in your worthless life, by the way we are not Muslims I have trace my family back to Scotland, my family came to America in 1716 and we have family members who fought for this country’s freedom in the Revolutionary War also we have family members who fought for the North in the Civil War and my grand father fought in France in 1918 as part of an Artillery company!
So tell me Nuffsaid what have YOU or YOUR family done to protect the freedoms of this country my bet is your just another progressive loud mouth talker who has done NOTHING other then let other brave man like my family stand guard while you run your mouth!
Report Post »NuffSaid
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 3:42amCool thanks for the clarification.
Report Post »BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET?
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 12:04amA bomb dropped on Mecca during the Hajj would wipe out about 2-3 million in one swoop.
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 11:42pmThese people are no longer human, they are monstrosities, their mothers and fathers are monsters, their brothers and sisters are deranged animals, their grandmother and grandfather are worms. The book they worship was created from the feces of Satan. Other than that I guess they are ok.
Report Post »JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 11:41pmI debated this with myself and came to the unanimous conclusion, they are on the list for a reason, however being citizens of the United States they are entitled to due process. Which means solid evidence and closer scrutiny. either way, though I’m sure this is an unpopular statement, they do have rights and if they can be denied those right so can we.
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 11:46pmDon’t kid yourself, everyone who posts here is on a list also. It’s not a matter of good and bad, being on a list. It’s a business decision, the more people that are on a list the more jobs there are in law enforcement, more overtime, higher pay.
Report Post »Ron_WA
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 1:14amI’m w/ you on the due process aspect but if you are put on the list (which is not entitled to due process as flying is a privilege) it is up to you to prove you are safe enough to allow to fly.
Report Post »discardofevil
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 11:40pmI have an idea.. Lets fly him out of our country!! For Good. Bring on the Racial Profiling!! I am all for it! So are those that want safety.
Report Post »Ron_WA
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 11:34pmI’ve no issue w/ this. Prove they’re innocent & no risk.
People should always have a right to defend themselves.
But flying is a privilege once you’re on the list prove you’ve earned it.
My son, born in WA in 1994 has been on the “watch list” since 2001 when he was barley 7 & obviously not a radical terrorist. He apparently shares the name of a person of interest. It always takes an extra hour or so to get the TSA to let him board a plane. We still can’t get him removed from the list.
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 11:28pmThis is what CAIR was all about before 2008. I doubt it is even monitored now.
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc5G7UaRdPc
Cold War Vet
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 11:26pmWell, it’s nice that there are lawyers standing up for the rights of potential terrorists. Now. How about getting some lawsuits defending OUR RIGHT to enjoy the Fourth Amendment without being groped up without probable cause like common criminals?
Sorry folks, but to be perfectly candid here; If someone wearing a hijab or a burqa wants to get on a plane, especially if their passports show frequent visits to Somalia, Yemen, or other Jihad hotspots, then they should be profiled. What’s fair is fair. Islamic males between the ages of 20 and 40 are the highest risk group. Act accordingly.
Let’s do what the Israelis do, and profile EVERYBODY. No TSA BS. Just smart psychological profiling of all passengers. Most require no search and grope! They’re good too! No planes flying out of Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv get hijacked! Not since the early 1970s…
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 11:15pmWalk or swim…I’ll chum the water for you.
Report Post »Ookspay
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 11:15pmNot a bad idea to keep an eye on the Mohammedans:
“Muslims must muster all weapons to terrorize the infidels.” Qur’an 8:60
“Slay the unbelievers wherever you find them.” Qur’an 2:191
“Maim and crucify the infidels if they criticize Islam” Qur’an 5:33
“Muslims must not take the infidels as friends.” Qur’an 3:28
A few golden oldies from the religion of pieces.
Report Post ».
lylejk
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 11:13pmNo tear in my eye; those on the list had to have done something idiotic to get on it; there are no coincidences (other then possible same name issues). Like Neiman says; take a boat. Always a way to get around the fly zone. Drive to the east coast, then, take a boat ride to Europe; so it may cost you a little more time and money. Not my problem but it is yours. Don’t like this, then petition the State for clearance of your name. Then, if you can’t get that, then thank God you are not in jail where you obviously belong if you are on the list and can’t be taken off. Getting on this list is not an Islam issue; it’s a terrorist/criminal issue. Deal with it if you so happen to match a criminal who is on it. They can then give you a biometric check (finger prints, etc.) and then you can get a special pass. Flying itself is not a right (neither is driving); it’s a priviledge and sometimes (most of the time) an inconvenient one. :)
Report Post »conservative_teacher
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 11:05pmSacrificing liberty does not, I repeat, does not guarantee safety.
Report Post »xoke
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 11:36pmI don’t like the situation…but I’ll take liberty over safety. Agree
Report Post »neiman1
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 10:54pmTake a boat
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 10:54pmWanna get savvy on CAIR? Google Brigitte Gabriel; she is a great authority on them and helps me educate my listeners. I‘m sure you’ll see her on FOX about this.
Report Post »Talmid of Yeshua
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 1:15amBrigitte Gabriel is awesome. She was reared in Lebanon, and she was brainwashed in school to hate Jews (even though she was from a Christian family), all Arabs, for the most part, are taught from an early age to hate the Jews… until they rescued her from the conquering Muslims who destroyed the once peaceful and Christian country of Lebanon.
Islam is Satan’s tool of choice to bring about the anti-christ that Revelation speaks of. Will you take the mark of the Beast?
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on August 15, 2011 at 10:50pmThis headline could just as easily read, “Fire Ants Mobilize to Defend Small Cone of Sand.”
Report Post »