Religion Watch Archives

Monitoring Trends in Religion - From February 1990 to January 2016

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Archives
    • By Issue
    • By Article
    • By PDF (2008-14)
    • By PDF (1985-97)
    • All Articles
  • Sections
    • Current Research
    • Findings & Footnotes
    • On/File
  • Google Search
You are here: Home / Archive / New crackdown on Muslim activists raises protests of persecution

New crackdown on Muslim activists raises protests of persecution

December 1, 1998 by Richard Cimino

Print-friendly

Using new, broad powers of investigation and a much larger budget, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in recent months is targeting Muslim activists for alleged support of  terrorist attacks against American lives and property.

Using a 1996 act of Congress with vastly expanded jurisdiction, sharp increases in its budget and anti-terrorism agents, the FBI is cracking down on a variety of Muslim activists suspected of promoting terrorist attacks here and overseas. Individuals such as Mohammed Salah of Bridgeview, Illinois, have been deprived of their bank accounts, their right to private consultations with their doctors and bankers, and in some cases, ownership of their homes.

Admitting that some of the money he has raised from Muslims in America has gone to the political wing of the known terrorist group, Hamas, Salah has become the center of what is turning into a major controversy over religious freedom. According to a story in the Washington Post   National Weekly Edition (Nov. 9, 1998) a growing number of civil libertarians and Muslims are claiming that the FBI is using its expanded powers to persecute Muslims who are supporting unpopular causes.

To some constitutional experts, the FBI crackdown raises fundamental questions over depriving suspects of due process and other rights. According to Georgetown University professor David Cole, the FBI is saying the citizenry should trust them but they are “going way overboard.”

— By Erling Jorstad, RW contributing editor

Print-friendly

Filed Under: Archive

Also in this issue

  • Findings & Footnotes: December 1998
  • Alpha course’s success suggests turnaround in British church
  • South Korea’s depression drives churches back to basics
  • Current Research: December 1998
  • Churches turn to professionals to raise funds
  • Child abuse cases target Mormon church
  • Mormon social gospel unfolding?
  • Tattooing marks believers — from pagan to evangelical
  • Elections signal downturn for religious right?
  • Denominations still play role in congregational life

Search the Site

Download the first issue of RELIGION WATCH (1980)

Download the first issue of RELIGION WATCH (1980)

Click on the image for downloading

© 2016-2020 Richard Cimino / Religioscope
·News Pro Theme · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress