‘Psychological Torture’: CAIR Sues U.S. Gov’t to Prevent Religious Questioning of Muslims at the Border
- Posted on April 25, 2012 at 10:47am by
Billy Hallowell
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Tensions between the United States government and The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) are about to heat up, as the Michigan chapter of the organization has filed a lawsuit in federal court against government authorities. CAIR has launched the complaint in response to what it calls intrusive questioning and “psychological torture” that Muslim American citizens are faced with when they try to re-enter the U.S. at the northern border with Canada, CNS News reports.
The lawsuit was filed on April 13 in U.S. District Court in Michigan against the Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security administration (TSA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Two FBI agents – Robert B. Thompson and Jeff Sokolowski — are listed as defendants.
The case hinges on the fact that some Detroit-area Muslims claim that they have been held at gunpoint, handcuffed and repeatedly harassed about their religion when returning to the U.S. from Canada. The lawsuit (read the complaint in its entirety here) seeks to bar government agents from asking questions about religion.
Watch the CAIR Michigan press conference from earlier this month, below:
The Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said border agents and the FBI are violating the First Amendment and a 1993 federal law that guarantees freedom to practice religion.
“Since the tragedy of 9/11, we have seen a steady erosion of civil liberties of Muslim-Americans,” CAIR director Dawud Walid said Friday, a day after a lawsuit was filed in federal court in Detroit.
CNS News has more about the individuals launching the complaints, which date back to 2008 and allegedly occurred as recently as Dec. 2011:
The four plaintiffs are identified as Muslim male U.S. citizens. They are Abdulrahman Cherri, Wissam Charafeddine, Ali Suleiman Ali, and Kheireddine Bouzid. The lawsuit claims that the plaintiffs’ First and Fifth Amendment rights have been violated. It also alleges that the federal government violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act by “targeting and detaining Plaintiffs with a purpose of questioning them about their religious beliefs and practices.” [...]
According to…Walid…individuals trying to reenter the United States through the northern border are not directly asked whether or not they are Muslim. Instead, he indicated that they are profiled based on their name, background, or physical appearance.
“We believe [that] is based upon their name. They see names that appear to be Muslim, they have some type of Arabic background or people whose physical appearance, you know, they have the appearance of wearing some type perhaps scarf,” Walid told CNSNews.com.
(Photo: FBI.gov)
Attorney Shereef Akeel said it’s hard to imagine a Jew crossing the border and being asked about the Sabbath or a Roman Catholic quizzed about praying the rosary.
“It’s really persecution. They’re targeting a group,” he said.
According to the lawsuit, Kheireddine Bouzid, 24, of Ypsilanti has been stopped at the border at least five times since 2008 by agents with their guns drawn.
None of the agencies named in the lawsuit have conclusively confirmed or denied the allegations waged against them. A spokeswoman for CBP, though, claims that the agency doesn’t allow profiling based on race or religion. Likewise, a spokesperson for the TSA told CNS News that the agency also doesn’t profile based on race, ethnicity or religion.
CAIR, though, maintains that the plaintiffs were asked questions that both humiliated and stigmatized them. According to the lawsuit, the following, Islam-specific questions were asked: Which mosque do you go to?, How many times a day do you pray?, Who is your religious leader? and Do you perform your morning prayer at the mosque?
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(H/T: CNS News)
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Comments (96)
drphil69
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:28amHere is the solution – DON’T COME HERE. THEN WE WON’T QUESTION YOU!
Report Post »WWFSMD
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:46amWhy exactly should they not come here, is this not a free country and are they not citizens?
Report Post »goldmind
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:57amAs the saying goes…”If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Who cares what nationality, the point is we are at war with radical Islam, so play by our rules or go back to your homeland. Seems simple enough for me. And based on this lawsuit, all parties involved, should be thrown out of the country IMMEDIATELY! One thing we have learned from radical Muslims, they are masters at diversion and deceit. Oh, and if they have any radical ties, dispose of them. Preferably, the same way, we did Binny Laden.
Report Post »toto
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:59amNow Muslims want the “Don‘t Ask Don’t Tell” rule for terrorists????
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 12:08pmBecause they bring their stinking radicals with them WWFSMD. These radicals aren’t isolated. They’re numerous and they hide among the rest of them. Jihad spouting Imams trying to recruit terrorists in mosques are not aberrant to the “religion of peace and tolerance”…they’re almost commonplace. Islam has an agenda that clashes with the values of Americans. When Islam can leave that agenda in the middle east, or Africa or Asia..then it’s going to get a warmer reception here…until then, it gets the scorn it deserves.
Report Post »J_Ruben_Kincaid
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 12:44pmAbsolutely correct, they have no business being in a country they hate so much unless they come to attack it.
Report Post »Just_Us
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 1:00pmWe are all individuals, but when individuals affiliate themselves with people who fly planes in the buildings, who try to blow up US Citizens, who shoot at US soldiers, who routinely cut heads and other body parts off of people, shouldn’t we at a minimum question them in regards to their motives? If you put on a ski mask and walk in to a bank, should people not question it? Isn’t THAT profiling? If a blind man gets behind the wheel of a school bus, shouldn’t we question it? If an airline passenger begins banging on the cockpit door, should we question that? The bottom line is, if an act was perpetrated by people before you who made poor choices AND you choose to follow in their footsteps, isn’t there a reasonable expectation that you too may make the same bad choices since you have emulated that lifestyle up to this point? Do we really have to wait until you have a bomb vest on? Do we have to wait until a school bus is blown up? Do we have to wait until the bank is actually robbed? I understand there is a balance between personal liberty and the safety of others. Constitutional rights end where you are actively planning to harm others. CAIR is not asking for equality with others coming over the border, they are asking, no, demanding that Muslims get special treatment. If you don’t want to be accused of being a Nazi, then don’t wear the uniform. If you don’t want to be accused of being a radical Muslim, then refrain from behaving that way.
Report Post »getourcountryback
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 1:47pmWho knows if they are citizens or not? You can’t ask them to remove their face coverings, they don’t want to be questioned about who they are, where they have been, what they do, so who the heck knows WHAT they are or WHO they are. What a crock of crap. Subversive terrorists who worship a book of war. That is what they are, nothing more.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 6:34pm.
Report Post »By now Napolitano has issued an order that muslims will not be questioned.
Question the Swedes twice.
When was the last time you saw the TSA patting down a muslim at the airport?
Never.
eagle275
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 7:19pmBecause of morons like wwfsmd, we have these thugs in our country, helping the drug cartels and Hamas in Mexico,etc.
Report Post »IndyGuy
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 8:49am“It’s really persecution. They’re targeting a group,” he said.
Oh kinda like the radical Muslims did on 9/11….Maybe the Muslims wouldn‘t be under such scrutiny if they wouldn’t allow hate for America and Christians to be preached in their mosques…
Report Post »toto
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:47pmThis is yet another example of the inmates running the asylum. There is no reason on the face of the earth for a devout Muslim to come to America, other than to do us harm. Why do we welcome them????
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:27amNever has a group caused so much damage and problems to America as has Muslims. Keep all but a few out who come here and will assimilate. Second are the illegals from Mexico who make it hard on those who have come here legally. This needs to be stopped. If Obama and friends like them so much, move your azzes to Mexico. We do not want you either.
Report Post »Vrilgesellschaft
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:25amSeriously, are Americans really that apathetic? When re we going to take to the streets like the leftists and Professional Nonworkers? At least we’re intelligent enough not to burn down our own neighborhoods. At the very least, there should be a 48 hour Small Business Owners strike. Lock your employees out, quit serving your customers for two days and see how the mental defectives in the DNC snivel and whine. You won’t lose business if everyone participates. The alternative is to do nothing, wait until the dollar collapses and the demtards take to the streets demanding “social justice”, which they will get with a serving of rubber bullets. (Strike “rubber”).
Report Post »momprayn
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:24amToday on Glenn’s radio program, talking about the Muslim Brotherhood and their provable “seditious” rhetoric that is everywhere – and it’s not only them & there is no talk of prosecutiion or anything.. We all need to start clamoring for justice to be done against these criminal actions in so large numbers as not to be denied. Where is our “rule of law”, the constitution upheld instead of shredded and ignored?! Our Reps. do nothing. The Federal Govn’t has become our enemy and full of Communists – with Muslim cohorts. Those that know probably don’t know how to handle it to avoid bloodshed plus this is “election season”. They are also probably being threatened by the Communist and Islamic thugs. We have both Communist and Muslim problem folks that is about to explode.
http://www.commieblaster.com
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:47amGlenn still takes muslims as friends and advisors which is incredibly dangerous. I am watching him now on GBTV+ which is really good and everyone should subscribe!
Glenn trumpets his friendship with a known muslim jihadist, Zuhdi Jasser, who is an expert in establishing Hudna. This muslim engages in the most subtle form of jihad and has ensnared himself quite a prize: Glenn Beck.
Any muslim who does not apostate when confronted with the evil nature of Islam, re-affirms his adherence to the faith and the Jihad by which it is spread.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 12:01pmTell you what Mr Akeel….when christians start building terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and Iran and fly planes into skyscrapers in the name of Jesus..we’ll start profiling them too. Fair CAIR?
Report Post »Ali Bubba
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:22amWow, what a painful video to watch. They paraded out this conga line of poorly spoken morons…. its like watching a 9th grade social studies class give presentations. Oratory skills are quite obviously not their strong point. Wonder where this gaggle got their degrees from.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 12:13pmThe solution is simple…you make sure you do maintain the profiling of muslims (I mean seriously…who else is trying to blow us up?) but you also make sure you question other demographics equally. Men with long hair. Women with tattoos..I don’t care sorry..CAIR..whatever…just choose the “demographic of the day” among your agents and question that demographic while making sure you don’t miss the muslims. This way you can say..”hey..we don’t target one specific group everyone gets questioned equally..it’s totally random”.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:21amC.A.I.R………. Muslim thugs in three piece suits that use our own Constitution and legal system to set up America as a future England, Europe and Middle East where Islam is becoming/is dominant.
Muslim Brotherhood………..Muslim thugs in three piece suits that C.A.I.R. works for and has the welcome mat out for them at the White House.
Islam………..an evil cult designed by an ancient evil to destroy God on earth.
Report Post »Ali Bubba
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:23ampoorly tailored suits I might add, judging from this video.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:43amyes the suits are awful but they are a step up from the sandal wearing donkey riding man dress wearing appearance they typically present. these idiots are dangerous.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 12:02pm@HorseCrazy, OMG, that‘s the funniest description I’ve heard in a looooonnnnng time!!!!
Report Post »s0ck_monkey
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:19amWe’ll stop asking questions about your “religion” when you stop using it as an excuse to kill and maim…
Don’t like being asked questions about your religion? You‘re more than welcome to hop on the next thing smokin’ and take your asses back to Ass-crack-i-stan.
Or, the next time you find yourself going to Canada – stay your ass in Canada!
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:16amSend their azzes to Gitmo, then they can say they know what America thinks of them. There is no place in this country for many, if any of them. Seal the borders, set quotas and send those not legal packing and set a time limit even for those let in here. If they overstay, keep them out forever.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:16amCAIR as you back terrorists and are traitors to the nation; ask me if I honestly care.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:15amMost muslims know our culture and their culture does not mix. Why are here? One reason, either to promote hate, or suck off our government. Go your azzes home. You are not wanted.
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:15amI remember reading an editorial in Time magazine maybe over 10 years ago, in which the writer talked about American muslims in that they were not like muslims elsewhere. I thought that the writer was being foolish concerning the issue.
Report Post »A fox is a fox and a bear is a bear. The more they are given the more they will take… and so it goes…
mike_trivisonno
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:12amThe Jihad is very real.
If there is a country upon which war should be declared, it is Saudi Arabia. They are the enemy.
Then, here on the home front, we can begin by outlawing Islam, closing all mosques (garrisons), and deporting all muslims. Islam and muslims do not belong on American soil.
It is pure insanity, civilization suicide, to continue to entertain any notion that there is a “moderate” form of Islam.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:12amI am tired of Muslims, Africans, and Jews always complaining that they are victims. THese people should not be here if they feel they are treated so badly. All of these people are in a predominantly white Christian, western country but complain when people think like white, Christian, westerners. Quit coming here . We really do not want you.
Report Post »MyParker
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:10amIts not racial profiling, it criminal profiling.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:16amIndeed.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:09amEye for an Eye: treat Muslims as the Koran requires them to Treat You!
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:08amA time is coming muslims when you will look back on detainment and questioning at the border as a fond quaint memory. The smart thing to do would be pack your bags and prayer rugs.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:18amI have been urging muslims encamped on American soil to self-deport for years. The Ummah has a seriously flawed understanding of America and American Culture. We are not Europe or Asia, or Africa. They have no idea what is in store for them. Please, muslims, self-deport now while you still have the freedom of movement.
GITMO is a policy not a place. Obama could not close GITMO because the goals of the American Military differ from those of Obama, Soros, and their masters in Saudi Arabia.
GITMO – Git Mo – Get Mohammed.
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:53amDetainment is way too expensive.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:07amIf you are not yet in this country, then you have no guarantee of anything. If you are not a citizen, you are a guest, and a suspect guest at that in many cases. Run with it, or go home.
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:07amHow about this… Don’t answer the questions?? No entry allowed. No entry allowed regardless… How ’bout that??
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:06amSome Muslims should be questioned, requestioned, “profiled” and put in groups who are likely to cause damage to any country. Until they reel in their own, do not expect a free pass. You will not get one. One way or the other you are going to be looked at and looked at again. If you do not like it, go your sorry azz to some other country where you think is so great. We do not intend to keep putting up with the rot and hipocracy you are spewing so you can get another chance at damaging Americans. Go your azz home. No one wants you here.
Report Post »Razlord
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:03amUploaded by sanluisskywatch on Dec 11, 2011
Long Island’s Chemtrail Trials Continue as Suffolk County Says “We Won’t Be Sprayed Like Bugs”
Legislation to Stop Geoengineering Long Island’s Sky Receives Huge Citizen Response this is 55 minutes of citizens asking their local government to enact legislation to stop this treasonous spraying taking place in their (and our) skies.. there was a lot more people speaking out than just this.
This marks a serious deviation from the past, where people have remained silent locally on this issue, and proves we are reaching a tipping point- a critical mass if you will on the issue- it will continue to gain ground and momentum, and can’t be stopped now.
We must all act on the local level and follow the lead set forth by Suffolk County, Long Island and get our skies blue again. After that, we need trials for those responsible.
I will try and upload the rest as a large compilation, the original uploader of this footage was youtube.com/user/budgetmoon
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beLQckbkXxU
Optimist4now
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:02amThe case hinges on the fact that some Detroit-area Muslims claim that they have been held at gunpoint, handcuffed and repeatedly harassed about their religion when returning to the U.S. from Canada.
Report Post »EASY FIX: Stay out, and don’t come back!!!
blackyb
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:10amAs they should be. Stay in Canada or go back to the dunes if you don’t like it. We do not want any of you here. You do not belong here. This is our country. Assimilate or leave and don’t let the doors hit you where the good Lord split you.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:00amLast night Romney gave a speech and for the first time in years I felt some hope that America would return to its roots and all the above nonsense would eventually end. He said we were tired of being tired and its true. I am tired of being stressed by all that has happened in America since Obama took office. You never know from one day to the next what will happen. CAIR should have no say in America. OWS should be stopped from all their occupying. Order should be restored to America. Can Romney do it? Lets pray he can or we will continue our decline into Marxism.
Report Post »Razlord
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:06amRon Paul Winning: MSM Decides its Safe to Announce Delegate Wins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T6yP6ySSO0
voter fraud 2012 search…
NEVADA CAUCUS VOTE FRAUD PROOF! 2012 NEVADA CAUCUS PRIMARY VOTER FRAUD PROOF
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3D9-NNuC4g
Razlord
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:08am2012 Election RIGGED – This is going Viral
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBx__69pkpY&feature=related
blackyb
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:12amI hope they put Obama in jail along with Holder. Take the rest of them too. Let them know it is all over with their whinning and yammering. No one wants them in this country either. Take Sharpton, Farakhan, Wright and Jackson to Florida and let them fight the alligators. I would not care a bit, but the alligators would spit all of them out. Put them on a work farm and let them know what work is like. They feed off the black community.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:24amRazlord – the source is MSNBC! You are a Ron Paul supporter I take it. Not that I don’t believe Romney might be up to some nasty tricks. He certainly ran an extremely mean campaign against the other Republicans. He is what we have now and its what we have to go with. Maybe our fate is doomed. Have they worn us down with never ending lies and pressing forward with their agenda? I like Ron Paul’s strong defense of our Constitution. But, he is not our candidate. I pray God protects and sustains our Republic.
Report Post »Apple Bite
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 10:53amYet, another group to put the boots to…
Report Post »antrancher
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 10:52amYeah we are targeting a group. Isn’t that what they are doing?? They are exempt from health care. They persecute Christians. Why are we supposed to believe anything they say? Taqiyya! Go back to your country if you do not like it here. Follow our laws or go home!
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:18amI say target their sorry azzes. Let them know we are not putting up with their lying hipocracy. Give them no breaks. They deserve none. They are trouble makers and more groups to whine. Send them home.
Report Post »Obama Snake Oil Co
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 10:52amDestroy us with out own laws from within….
Report Post »Razlord
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:00amdestroy us from within…
red dawn.
got ya.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:02amUsing the system to destroy the system…just like our current Democrats are doing.
Report Post »