Syed Maswood: One country’s terrorist, another country’s spy

Damned if you do

Like many American Muslims, Syed Maswood has found himself accused of conflicting loyalties, both by Americans at home and Muslims abroad. A nuclear engineer from Connecticut (Warning Tom Ridge!!), the 41-year old Maswood found his house raided in anti-terrorism offensive this spring (although he was never charged) and added to the US government’s no-fly list. That was enough for him to insist on explanations from the government, believing it stemmed originally from charitable contributions he made. Ultimately, he received assurances that he would no longer be troubled by the Bureau of Immigration (he kept a copy of the letter with him when he travelled, just to be sure). But while in Dubai, his passport was flagged by UAE authorities and he was detained for questioning. Police later found his National Republican Congressional Committee membership card (“We found George Bush!”), which was apparently enough to throw him in jail (if we were in a more lighthearted mood, we’d understand). Although he’d surrendered his mobile phone, he used another one still in his posession to contact the US Embassy, who were able to secure his release the next day. He was later accused by UAE police of gathering information for the FBI and CIA (like they ever cooperate?). Finally, on his return to the US, he was flagged again in US customs and held for 4 hours (although he produced his letter, it’s authenticity was questioned). Sifting through the mountain of paperwork he has collected in his battles, Maswood is determined to fight and keep flying. “I was profiled as a quote-un-quote terrorist at home,” says Maswood, “And there, knowing that I’m a law abiding U.S. citizen, [they] profile me as an informant, so we are caught between a rock and wall.”

Zahed Amanullah is associate editor of altmuslim.com.  He is based in London, England.