Orange County Muslims say FBI Surveillance Upsetting
March 3, 2009 by national
Filed under Homeland Security News
The Islamic Center of Irvine is a beige stucco building that blends into the rows of office buildings surrounding it. But last week, it became the most publicized mosque in California with disclosures that the FBI sent an informant there to spy and collect evidence of jihadist rhetoric and other allegedly extremist acts by a Tustin man who attended prayers there.
The revelations dismayed mosque members like Omar Turbi, 50, and his 27-year-old son who shares his name. After Friday prayer service last week, while hundreds of others scurried back to work, the pair stood with their backs to a wall and mulled over the news.
“It gives you a little bit of apprehension about who you trust,” the elder Turbi said. “Makes you think twice about what you say; what if people misunderstand you?”
Turbi’s fears were echoed by other Muslims throughout Southern California last week. Some say a climate of suspicion toward them, fueled by 9/11 and underscored by the latest disclosures of FBI surveillance, is inhibiting their freedoms of speech and faith.
According to Muslim leaders, some people are avoiding mosques, preferring to pray at home. Others are reducing donations to avoid attracting government attention or paying in cash to avoid leaving records. And some mosques have asked speakers to refrain from political messages in their sermons, such as criticism of U.S. foreign policy, said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Anaheim.
“Some average Muslims interested only in praying are avoiding mosques for fear of somehow being monitored or profiled,” Ayloush said. “Everybody is afraid, and it is leading to an infringement of the free practice of our religion.”
The latest anxiety wave was triggered by an FBI agent’s testimony last week that an informant was sent into several Orange County mosques and helped collect evidence against Ahmadullah Sais Niazi. The Afghanistan-born Niazi, 34, is scheduled for arraignment this month on charges of perjury, naturalization fraud and other acts related to lying about ties to Al Qaeda.
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Islam is not the enemy, extremists that want to destroy this Country and the people that call it home are the enemy. Don’t allow others to spin the importance of intelligence, a true Muslim isn’t fearful to pray anywhere. If you enjoy your freedoms here and you pray at a Mosque that preaches hate and discontent for this Country then you should do the right thing and report it. Look at the facts people, the statements in this article don’t represent “true” Islam, it is people trying to play spin doctor.
The Muslims (extremists) brought this situation on themselves and it’s not going to go away until Muslims (non-extremists) pull themselves together in a way so that our country will not see them as a threat to society. It’s not going to happen over night, but it can and must be done or they will have to contend with the constant monitoring of their activities.
I cannot understand why Islamist come to live in the U.S., a Christian country. It is natural for others to be suspicious of their loyalty to this country. Islamists should not complain about this because Islamic countries treat foreigners of other religions, living in their countries are also treated the same way.