Letters to the editor
October 28, 2006
12:00 AM
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
We're
eager to meet with the FBI to develop protocols
The
Islamic Council of Greater Pittsburgh delegates from local mosques
heartily appreciate FBI Supervisory Special Agent Jeffrey B.
Killeen's stated desire to foster mutual understanding with the
Muslim community and protect our civil rights ("It's
Wrong to Suggest the FBI Targets Those of Arabic Origin," Oct.
21). In the spirit of Mr. Killeen's letter, we have two requests of
the FBI that we have made in writing directly but have not received a
reply to, and after your publication of his letter we are confident
that the FBI will support its stated desires with actions:
1)
We would like a meeting with the FBI to develop a protocol for
searching mosques without causing an unnecessary disruption of
services or intimidation of the congregants. We believe it is
possible for the FBI to conduct investigations without putting a
cloud of suspicion on our whole community as was done on the June 30
raid of the Light of the Age Mosque. We believe this meeting is
consistent with Mr. Killeen's statement that the FBI reaches out to
the Muslim community.
2)
We would like an inventory of any items removed from the Light of the
Age Mosque in the raid that took place on June 30. The provision of
an inventory is standard, and we are sure the FBI does not believe
Muslims should be singled out to be denied this right.
We
look forward to a successful meeting on protocols for searching our
mosques as well as a delivery of the inventory, and we look forward
to a Post-Gazette story on such positive steps the FBI can take to
show that we can believe its assurances about its relationship with
your Muslim neighbors.
YUSEF
ALI
President
Islamic
Council of Greater Pittsburgh Executive Committee
Point Breeze
The
letter also was signed by Jibril AbdulHafeez, vice president; Khalid
Chatta, treasurer; and S. Saleh Waziruddin, secretary.
President
Islamic Council of Greater Pittsburgh Executive Committee
Point Breeze
