CIVIL RIGHTS

Community Activist Approached by FBI Agents  |  Aug 20, 2010

A community activist was approached by an FBI agent. The agent explained he wanted to speak with him, but did not indicate a reason. The individual retained CAIR-SFBA Director, Zahra Billoo, as counsel. She intervened and the agent explained his interest in the individual was to learn more about his activism in the community. Through Billoo, the community member asserted his right to remain silent and direct contact with the FBI was terminated.

*CAIR-SFBA offers free legal representation for community members who have been contacted by the FBI. Please note, it is critical that community members consult with an attorney before speaking with FBI agents.

Muslim woman approached by FBI agents  |  Aug 05, 2010

CAIR-SFBA was contacted by a Muslim woman who was approached by two FBI agents at her home this week. Before visiting her home, they called and were told to call again in another hour as she was unavailable. Less than an hour later they knocked on her door. The agents were interested in speaking with the woman regarding her interactions with Shaikh Anwar Awlaki, three years ago. CAIR-SFBA briefed her on her rights and has been retained as counsel on her behalf, in case of future FBI contact.

*CAIR -SFBA offers free representation for community members who have been contacted by the FBI. Please note, it is important that community members not speak with the FBI without an attorney present under any circumstances.

Muslim student not allowed to attend Friday prayers  |  Aug 03, 2010

CAIR-SFBA was contacted by a male student who was prevented by his high school administration from attending Friday prayers. The administration was concerned about the student missing exams and not completing the hours necessary to pass the class, so they offered him space at school to pray. CAIR -SFBA contacted the school to explain the obligation of a Muslim male to attend Friday congregational prayers at a mosque. After learning more about Friday prayers, the Principal granted the student’s request for accommodation.

CAIR, ALC, and ACLU Documenting FBI Surveillance Practices

Call for Stories & Know Your Rights

In recent months, there has been a notable increase in complaints by community members of FBI visits. The community members who have reported visits by the FBI have been of diverse backgrounds, both ethnically and geographically, and varying levels of religious practice. We have seen a special emphasis on individuals who have ties to, or have visited Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen.

The San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento offices of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Asian Law Caucus (ALC) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (ACLU) are working together to document surveillance practices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Through this project we seek to identify patterns of overly intrusive conduct and empower community members with information about their rights and the resources available to them. We are also interested in learning about positive interactions with the FBI to be sure our investigation is balanced.

The project plan is two-fold:

1) Identify and document instances of FBI visits to community members and organizations. To that end, if you have been visited by the FBI or know of someone else who has please contact us.

2) Empower community members with access to attorneys, information and resources so that they are prepared in case of an FBI visit. If you are able to host a "Know Your Rights" presentation at your location or for your group, please contact us.

Interviews are confidential and we believe the information we are gathering will be crucial for raising the awareness of lawmakers to overly intrusive FBI practices and their impact on the civil rights and civil liberties of South Asian, Arab, and Muslim communities.

Upcoming “Know Your Rights” Presentation:
Sunday, August 15th, 2010 at 12:00 p.m.
Pakistani American Culture Center
1590 Oakland Road, Suite B213 San Jose, CA 95131

San Francisco Bay Area 2009 Civil Rights Report

CAIR-SFBA encourages all community members to review CAIR’s American Muslim Civic Pocket Guide.

See: Your Rights and Responsibilities as an American Muslim

Copies of the Civil Rights report can be obtained through the CAIR-SFBA website.

See: 2009 Civil Rights Report