The Double Standards of U.S. FTO vs. DTO Prosecution

August 6, 2021 Updated March 7, 2024 White Papers

Executive Summary

The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) and Emgage Action have developed this policy package as a guide for members of the federal government and other key stakeholders in order to:

  • Help all parties better understand the proposed legislation on domestic terrorism (DT) and how existing legal codes (as highlighted in our appendix) can be used to prosecute white supremacist terrorism; 
  • Address the violations of civil liberties and international human rights standards by law enforcement under the increased authorities of the state’s counterterrorism powers; 
  • Demonstrate the discriminatory double standards of the state’s application of the foreign terrorist organization (FTO) laws in their investigation of American Muslims and other minorities/people of color;
  • Demonstrate the ways in which the state’s discriminatory practices served to undermine national security, allowing the threat of white supremacist militancy and violence to intensify and grow; 
  • Encourage reforms to counterterrorism laws and practices that will enhance national security without further expanding an already unchecked set of powers that threaten the rights and freedoms of all Americans; and
  • Suggest the implementation of stringent protections for the civil rights and civil liberties of every American, regardless of their race, color, or creed.

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