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Just the facts<\/div>\n

<\/p><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

With a few weeks left to go before the US Presidential elections, the Federal Bureau of Investigation<\/a> (FBI) has quietly begun a series of new interrogations<\/a> of individuals in Arab and Muslim communities across America. While these \u201cvoluntary interviews\u201d (officially called the \u201cFall Threat Task Force\u201d but dubbed by critics as the \u201cOctober Plan\u201d) are in many ways an extension of the scrutiny of Muslims since September 11, 2001, the political overtones (and timing) have brought charges of an attempt to stifle political expression. According to CAIR<\/a>, Muslim leaders around the country said they had been contacted by the FBI in a \u201ccommunity outreach\u201d campaign, although in many cases being presented with a detailed list of community members the FBI wishes to speak to. Slowly, the pattern has played out across the country \u2013 in North<\/a> and South<\/a> Carolina, California<\/a>, Idaho<\/a>, Kansas<\/a>, but notably in battleground states such as Michigan<\/a>, Nevada<\/a>, Washington<\/a>, Florida<\/a>, Arizona<\/a>, and Pennsylvania<\/a>. The FBI maintains that the elections and other recent events warrant the measures. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to get a feel for people in the community who are dissidents, who are anti-government,\u201d said<\/a> an FBI spokesman. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to learn if within the Muslim community, are there supporters of terrorism in Iraq?\u201d However, where individuals have been interviewed, they have been asked political questions (How do you feel about the Bush administration? What do you think of U.S. foreign policy in Israel? Would you become a confidential informant?) that have made many wary of political activism or even voting. \u201cWhat is the point of asking a Muslim that question?\u201d said the ACLU\u2019s Dalia Hashad (referring to inquiries on President Bush). \u201cHe\u2019s entitled to his political opinion as much as anyone else.\u201d The ACLU<\/a>, which has stepped forward to highlight<\/a> the practices, has reported intimidation<\/a> as well. The chill mirrors the crackdown on Islamic charities<\/a>, which may continue to result in decreased donations during Ramadan (which begins this week). Despite these concerns, Muslim leaders maintain that they will be supportive and cooperative wherever possible. \u201cThey have every right to question. it\u2019s their duty to question and the Muslim community supports that,\u201d said the attorney for a mosque in Boise, Idaho. \u201cIt\u2019s how it\u2019s done.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

Zahed Amanullah is associate editor of altmuslim.com.\u00a0 He is based in London, England.\n<\/p>\n

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