A report published by Amnesty International in March says an estimated 347 immigrants rounded up in the wake of September 11 are still in government custody. Those held are being denied their rights under the U.S. Constitution and international law, which stipulate that anyone deprived of liberty must be informed of the reason, must be able to challenge the lawfulness of the detention, have access to legal counsel and be presumed innocent.
The conference in Dearborn opened with a panel discussion. Highlighting the assault on civil liberties, on the wall behind the speakers’ table were copies of Freedom of Information Act forms returned by the government, with the names of those detained since September 11 blacked out.
Ijaz Manzoor Chaudry from Solidarity USA denounced the harassment and mistreatment of Arab-Americans: “Individuals are being arrested and detained indefinitely. Maneuvers are being used to curb federal criminal proceedings in order to move detainees to jurisdictions where the courts are known for speedy trials and infamous for their favoritism to the government.”
He described the raids carried out in March by the FBI, immigration and customs officials on Arab-American organizations such as the International Institute of Islamic Thought and the Holy Land Foundation. All of the organizations targeted were well established and have been around for decades.
The conference in Dearborn opened with a panel discussion. Highlighting the assault on civil liberties, on the wall behind the speakers’ table were copies of Freedom of Information Act forms returned by the government, with the names of those detained since September 11 blacked out.
Ijaz Manzoor Chaudry from Solidarity USA denounced the harassment and mistreatment of Arab-Americans: “Individuals are being arrested and detained indefinitely. Maneuvers are being used to curb federal criminal proceedings in order to move detainees to jurisdictions where the courts are known for speedy trials and infamous for their favoritism to the government.”
He described the raids carried out in March by the FBI, immigration and customs officials on Arab-American organizations such as the International Institute of Islamic Thought and the Holy Land Foundation. All of the organizations targeted were well established and have been around for decades.