Monday, June 11, 2012

Lawsuit filed against NYPD

Suit against NYPD asks that surveillance of Muslims based on faith be declared unconstitutional
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2012/06/suit-against-nypd-asks-that-surveillance-of-muslims-based-on-faith-be-declared-unconstitutional.html
     Islamic jihadists murder and terrorize other people based on their faith, but it is not permissible for Infidel authorities to take that into account. By actions like this one, Islamic supremacists in the U.S. are determined to end all effective resistance to their jihad.
     More on this story. "Suit against NYPD asks that surveillance of Muslims based on faith be declared unconstitutional," by James Queally for The Star-Ledger, June 6 (thanks to Benedict):



NEWARK — The New York Police Department's years-long
surveillance of Muslim businesses and mosques throughout the
Northeast denigrated the Islamic faith and violated the
constitutional rights of countless Muslim-Americans, according
to a federal lawsuit filed in Newark today.

The suit, which is the first legal challenge of the NYPD's spy operations,

could mark the beginning of a historical movement, said Farhana
Khera, executive director of Muslim Advocates, the civil rights group
filing the suit on behalf of several New Jersey residents.

"This lawsuit is perhaps the most important legal challenge brought to

date by American Muslims," Khera said.

The eight plaintiffs are all Muslims from New Jersey and include a

U.S. Army reservist, a Newark business owner who served in Vietnam
and the imams of several mosques who were targeted by the NYPD
Surveillance and Demographics unit.

The suit is calling for a "declaratory judgment" which labels specific

surveillance of Muslims based on faith unconstitutional, said Glenn
Katon, the legal director for Muslim Advocates.

Katon is also seeking a court order prohibiting the NYPD from future

surveillance of Muslims based on faith and the destruction of all records
compiled by the NYPD during its spy operations.

"When the NYPD says all Muslims are suspects we have a clear case

of government denigrating religion," Katon said.


The OIC is trying to pressure Western countries to criminalize "denigration of religion."


Katon said that while the lawsuit is focused on New Jersey residents,
further legal action could involve New York residents as well.

Muslim Advocates considered including Newark police in the lawsuit,

but ultimately there were too many conflicting reports about the extent
of their involvement in NYPD operations in New Jersey.

All eight plaintiffs were New Jersey residents that were in one way or

another watched during NYPD's operations including at least two
members of Rutgers' Muslim Student Association.

In the month since the Associated Press released a 50-page document

detailing the NYPD's actions in Newark, several Muslim leaders in New
Jersey have spoken out on the ways the report has had a "chilling effect"
on the Muslim community.

"This is a blanket victimization of a suspect class," said specialist Farhaj

Hassan, a U.S. Army reservist and one of the plaintiffs. "I think this is
what the pilgrims crossed the ocean to avoid."

The suit comes two weeks after State Attorney Jeffrey Chiesa announced

the completion of a three-month review into the NYPD's actions in New
Jersey. His office found New York investigators did nothing wrong
or criminal, leaving many Muslim leaders in New Jersey to feel like the
lawsuit was a last resort to vindicate themselves.

"They don't have the right to spy and do surveillance on innocent people,

on good citizens," said Newark Imam Abdul Kareem Muhammad.

The NYPD could not be reached for comment immediately, but on Tuesday

NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Paul Browne said,
"I refer you to the New Jersey AG’s report and to the fact that NYPD
activities in New Jersey were lawful, appropriate and in keeping with
efforts there, in New York, and around the world to prevent terrorists from
returning here to kill more New Yorkers."


Indeed.

No comments:

Post a Comment