Dem Rep. Asks FBI to Stop 'Publicizing' the 'Faces of Global Terrorism' in Seattle – The Reason Why Probably Won't Surprise You

U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) on Wednesday sent a letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller urging him to stop using "offensive" bus ads that show sixteen faces of wanted terrorists.

The ad campaign, created by the Puget Sound Joint Terrorism Task Force for the State Department's Rewards for Justice Program, is "not only offensive to Muslims and ethnic minorities, but it encourages racial and religious profiling," McDermott claims.

(Rep. Jim McDermott)

The congressman argues that the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list also includes individuals of other races and "associations with other religions and causes."

"But their faces are missing from this campaign," he writes. "The...ad will likely only serve to exacerbate the disturbing trend against Middle Eastern, South Asian and Muslim Americans."

It should be noted that, while the majority of the terrorists listed on the ad appear to be from Muslim regions, not all of them appear to be Muslim. More importantly, the FBI does not discriminate when determining who is a dangerous and wanted terrorist.

The State Department's Rewards for Justice Program is offering $25 million in rewards for information leading to the terror suspects' arrest. Without putting the terrorists' faces out there, it's hard to understand how McDermott suggests increasing the odds of catching them.

McDermott also cc'd Attorney General Eric Holder in his letter to Mueller. Read the entire letter here.

(H/T: Weasel Zippers)

–

[related]