NYPD REPORT CONTRADICTS FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FINDINGS
August 15, 2007
The Muslim Public Affairs Council today expressed deep concern over a report released this morning by the New York Police Department entitled "Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat", which cautions broadly against a growing domestic threat but does not provide any specific evidence or charges.
"We are disappointed by the report's lack of specific factual evidence, the significant inconsistencies evident between it and the findings of federal law enforcement, and the troubling mixed messages it sends about profiling," said MPAC Senior Advisor Maher Hathout.
The report is inconsistent findings from the National Intelligence Estimate released last month as well as Congressional testimony offered by Department of Homeland Security and FBI officials last month on the question of domestic radicalization. The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee this morning cited a number of statements made by FBI Assistant Director John Miller and DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff. These and other officials have repeatedly stressed the importance of the mainstream Muslim American community in fostering integration and producing a successful and healthy younger generation.
SEE: "DHS & FBI Discuss Nat'l Intelligence Estimate with Muslim, Arab & South Asian Groups" (MPAC, 7/17/07)
In June, MPAC released a special report examining the state of Muslim American youth entitled "The Impact of 9/11 on Muslim American Young People: Religious & National Identity Formation in the Age of Terrorism & Islamophobia". Last month, MPAC also held a historic National Muslim American Youth Summit, which brought 27 Muslim college student leaders and young professionals to Capitol Hill to foster enhanced civic engagement. Such efforts are crucial to provide opportunities for inclusion and contribution from among the community.
The NYPD report, which sought to identify patterns from a handful of domestic and European counterterrorism cases, finds "there is no useful profile to assist law enforcement or intelligence to predict who will follow this trajectory of radicalization. Rather, the individuals who take this course begin as 'unremarkable' from various walks of life." While the authors say that there is no profile for domestic suspects, they then go on to say that law enforcement should be on the lookout for Arab males between the ages of 18-35. Such mixed messages undermine effective policing, and instead breed general fear in the public and more skepticism from Muslim Americans themselves.
"Such broad generalizations will add to public hysteria and confusion rather than isolating and identifying real threats to our nation," said MPAC Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati.
Muslim American groups, including MPAC, have taken a leading role in fostering relationships between law enforcement and local communities in order to work proactively to prevent radicalization from taking root in religious institutions. Since May 2004, MPAC's National Grassroots Campaign to Fight Terrorism has offered mosques a set of proactive community-led guidelines and resources in order to protect mosques, communities and the country. It also supports Mosques in developing ongoing relationships with interfaith groups and law enforcement officials. Click here to find out more about the campaign, which has been recognized by the Department of Justice and endorsed the Islamic Society of North America.
The report and comments made by NYPD officials use overly broad language to describe average Muslim American young people who they say could pose a threat. In a press conference this morning, NYPD officials described the report as the first to develop a matrix on which to plot the course of "unremarkable" people as they move toward the potential for violent action. This generalization could potentially lead to further isolation of youth who will feel like they are being singled out due to their racial or religious background.
Founded in 1988, the Muslim Public Affairs Council is an American institution which informs and shapes public opinion and policy by serving as a trusted resource to decision makers in government, media and policy institutions. MPAC is also committed to developing leaders with the purpose of enhancing the political and civic participation of Muslim Americans.
