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AMV cautions Muslims when shopping on Internet December 3, 2004: The American Muslim Voice has warned all Muslims, Arabs and South Asians to be vigilant when they are making any purchases on the Internet. The AMV Executive Director, Samina Faheem Sundas, reminded the Muslims, Arabs and South Asians that under the Patriot Act the government has the right to check your library, medical, bank and book store records. They could also tap into your telephone and monitor your shopping on Internet. “Before you make any purchase or check out a book from the library, think of its implications. As Muslims and Arabs your unassuming purchase may cause suspicion in the current political climate.” The AMV Executive Director also urged the Muslims, Arabs and South Asians to know their rights and do not speak to the FBI agent without the presence of an attorney even if they are 100 percent sure that they have not done anything wrong or have nothing to hide. “You have a right to refuse to answer any of their questions without the presence of an attorney.” The AMV warning follows an incident in which an American Muslim private pilot, Mohammad Ghazali, was recently visited by a FBI agent after he purchased technical manuals for Boeing 737 on eBay. In a statement Mohammad said that the first time FBI agent called at my business place in my absence and left a message with an employee. I was not sure why? “I thought that this may have been related to the latest round of interviews of Muslims the FBI had launched in recent months. “My family was very concerned so the next morning I contacted the American Muslim Voice and spoke to Samina Faheem Sundas, who set up a phone interview with the National Lawyers Guild and later in the afternoon I was contacted by an attorney, Mr. John Crew. He asked me if I have any idea why the FBI would like to interview me? I informed him that I have no idea. After speaking to the FBI agent he called me back and informed me that the agent knew that I was a private pilot and wants to ask me a few questions about my recent purchase of some technical manuals for a Boeing 747 on eBay. “Mr. Crew told the agent that Mohammad will answer all of your questions in the presence of an attorney and that he will arrange a local attorney for the interview. “To my surprise, the FBI agent stopped by my place of business unexpectedly on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2004. I informed him that I would like to have my attorney present to answer your questions. He asked me why I wanted to have an attorney present to answer a few simple questions regarding the technical manuals. I told him that I don’t mind answering any question but would still prefer my attorney present. “He asked me why did I buy the technical manuals for a Boeing 747? I corrected him that those were actually 737 not 747 technical manuals. I informed him that flying is my hobby, I wanted to become a commercial pilot but since I am the only son, my parents urged me not to become a commercial pilot. Now I am a private pilot. Coincidently, the same day Mr. John Crew contacted the agent to make arrangement for an interview. However, the FBI agent told him that he had already interviewed Mohammad. Mr. John Crew said: “I was led to believe that the FBI will not interview Mohammad without an attorney present. People have the right to have an attorney present when being interviewed by the FBI. “Mr. John Crew went on to say that the FBI says that it is having volunteer interviews of Muslims but such incidents discourage people to come forward. It is important for the FBI to be open and honest. Trust breads cooperation but this kind of treatment creates mistrust. This is very unfortunate. “This brief encounter with the FBI also led me to think about my shrinking civil rights under the Patriot Act. I feel that now I am being watched constantly while I am surfing the Internet, buying a book or checking out a book from the library,” Mohammad concluded. One of the most significant provisions of the Patriot Act makes it far easier for the authorities to gain access to records of citizens' activities being held by a third party. At a time when computerization is leading to the creation of more and more such records, Section 215 of the Patriot Act allows the FBI to force anyone at all - including doctors, libraries, bookstores, universities, and Internet service providers - to turn over records on their clients or customers. There are those who believe that patriot act has not effected any one " quite contrary Patriot act is an invisible sword that is hanging over our heads at all times and had created a culture of fear,” said Ms. Sundas. Dawn, Pakistan – December 4, 2004 Muslims told to be vigilant in internet shopping By Our Correspondent SAN FRANCISCO, DEC. 3: The American Muslim Voice, a leading civil rights organization, has warned all Muslims, Arabs and South Asians to be vigilant when they are making any purchases on the Internet because their innocent purchase may cause suspicion. The AMV warning follows an incident in which a Pakistani American private pilot, Mohammad Ghazali, was recently visited by a FBI agent after he purchased technical manuals for Boeing 737 on eBay. Mohammad Ghazali, in a statement, said that when the FBI agent first called at his business place in his absence he thought that this may be related to the latest round of interviews of Muslims the FBI had launched in recent months. His family was very concerned so the next morning Mohammad contacted the American Muslim Voice that arranged an attorney, John Crew, from the National Lawyers Guild. After speaking to the FBI agent, John Crew informed Mohammad that the agent wants to ask him a few questions about his recent purchase of technical manuals for Boeing on eBay. The attorney told the agent that Mohammad will answer all his questions in the presence of an attorney. To Mohammad’s surprise, the FBI agent stopped by at his place of business unexpectedly and despite his plea for the presence of an attorney the agent went ahead to ask about the manuals’ purchase and about his place of birth. The agent asked him how often he visits Pakistan. Coincidently, the same day Mr. John Crew contacted the agent to make arrangement for an interview and was amazed that the FBI agent had already interviewed Mohammad. John Crew said he was led to believe that the FBI will not interview Mohammad without an attorney present. He said that people have the right to have an attorney present when being interviewed by the FBI which says that it is having volunteer interviews of Muslims but such incidents discourage people to come forward. Mohammad Ghazali said that this brief encounter with the FBI led him to think about his shrinking civil rights under the Patriot Act introduced after 9/11. |