The Muslim Public Affairs Council today asked for an apology from the FBI and condemned the bigoted statements made during their trainings about Islam and the state of the “mainstream” Muslim American community. These harmful trainings are ineffective, immoral and counterproductive to the relationships we have developed and to  the identification of those who are truly out to harm the United States.

SEE: "FBI Teaches Agents: 'Mainstream' Muslims Are 'Violent,' 'Radical' (Wired)

“Our communities deserve an answer from our nation’s top law enforcement leaders; silence on this issue only sends a message of complicity and ruins critical partnerships that have proven effective in keeping our nation safe and secure,” said MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati.

At best, the FBI trainings are highly misleading and provide no practical value or information to law enforcement in preventing terrorism. These statement throw red herrings in front of law enforcement as they are scramble to keep an eye on “mainstream” Muslims, who have time after time have proven their loyalty and commitment to a country that is our home, than going after those who truly exhibit criminal behavior.

It is disconcerting that one of our nations’ highest law enforcement agencies could use such blatant misinformation, such as calling Prophet Mohammed a “cult leader” and Muslims the “agents of aggression,” about a religion that is practiced by more than 1.5 billion Muslims.

Using a bigoted paradigm and selectively using Islamic sources and scripture to attack the religion is simply masquerading bigotry as counterterrorism training.

This training alienates the very communities that have been critical partners in combating terrorism. Muslim communities have helped stop two out of every five al-Qaeda plots threatening the United States, according to MPAC’s “Post 9/11 Terrorism Database.”

MPAC sent a letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller asking for an immediate internal investigation into this matter and reassessment of the vetting process of trainers.

ALSO SEE: MPAC Sends Letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller

For more than 20 years, MPAC has built relationships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, and produced policy reports on countering violent extremism. The discovery of this training is a slap in the face of all we have worked toward, and the Muslim American community, as well as the nation, need an answer for such blatant Islamophobia.