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Imams’ Conference
In U.S. Ends First Full Day
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| Panel members at Imams' conference discuss U.S. political participation and legal rights. |
By Jamshed Bokhari, IOL Washington Correspondent
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, April 28 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The 2nd National Leadership Conference for Imams ended its first full day of meetings Saturday introducing to conference attendees the U.S. political system, Muslim participation within the system and their legal and constitutional rights within the U.S.
Hosted by the American Muslim Council (AMC), the conference is designed to bring together imams from mosques in the U.S., along with directors and board members of Islamic centers and Islamic school principals, in order to stress the importance of American Muslim participation within the U.S. political system.
One way in which to accomplish this task is to bring together leaders from within local communities so that they may pass on to Muslims at mosques Islamic centers, and Islamic schools, the message of political participation.
For “Imams have the closest grassroots contact with Muslim populations across the country,” read the welcoming statement.
In welcoming conference attendees, AMC made a special note of recognizing the changed circumstances since the last imams’ conference held in September 2000, one year before the attacks on September 11, 2001.
“In this context, this gathering of imams, principals of Islamic schools, members of the boards of directors of Islamic centers, and Muslim chaplains from our military branches, has a special significance.”
Four panels on Saturday discussed themes concerning “Muslim Perspective On Political Participation,” “Understanding The American Political System,” “Legal And Constitutional Rights,” and “The Imam & Islamic Center’s Other Community Priorities” (stressing the voice of female Muslims).
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| An audience comprised of imams, Islamic center leaders and school principals listen intently to issues concerning political participation. |
Speakers Saturday included immigration lawyer Ashraf Nubani, Fiqh Council of North America member and IslamOnline fatwa scholar Sheikh Muhammad al-Hanooti, School of Islamic and Social Sciences president and IslamOnline fatwa scholar Sheikh Taha Jabir al-Awani and civil rights attorney Stanley Cohen.
Nubani placed into context the “assault on civil liberties in America” enacted by U.S. President George W. Bush’s administration in the form of the USA PATRIOT Act, warning non-citizen Muslims in the U.S. of real dangers they face concerning detentions and deportations following passage of the act, which allows for unprecedented legal authority to detain and surveillance upon people living in the U.S.
“It’s a new day, a dark day, since the [passage of the] Patriot Act, “ asserted Cohen, who went on to detail the exact legal meanings of terms and proceedings within U.S. law concerning future possible raids and arrests.
Asked about the possibility of, and what can be done about, Muslim organizations in the U.S. being wiretapped, Cohen commented matter-of-factly, “Assume you are being listened to, and you’ll be OK,” directly implying that Muslim mosques and organizations phones and facilities, indeed, are already tapped.
Cohen’s most telling description of legal possibilities was the description of the “‘material witness order’…previously used against organized crime, and now against organized religion.”
“Well, one religion, really,” he said to laughter from the audience.
Material witness orders allow for government prosecutors to detain an individual on a “reasonable suspicion” that the individual possesses information they need and that there is “reasonable suspicion” that the individual is likely to flee. In essence, it allows the government to detain individuals without charges, a practice that is being challenged legally as unconstitutional.
Individuals like Rabih Haddad of the charitable Global Relief Foundation are being held under exactly this order.
Cohen’s most profound statement, however, came as advice when dealing with law enforcement agencies and officers raiding homes, businesses and organizations, stating that if authorities show up at your door, they should be asked to produce a search warrant before entering, if they do not, Cohen said, “Just say No.”
Law enforcement authorities cannot enter any home or facility unless they are invited in - which Cohen stressed repeatedly not to do - or they possess a warrant, by which legally they can enter and cannot be prevented from entering. In cases where there is a warrant, let them enter, “and then call your lawyer.” In any case, whether invited or with a warrant, you do not have to talk or answer any questions posed by law enforcement authorities.
Cohen further informed audience members to call lawyers immediately after a search warrant is produced, and again stressed that there is no requirement that one has to answer questions at this point.
More legal and political awareness panels will be held ýSundayý,ýý ý28ý ýAprilý, on topics such as civil rights, political empowerment, addressing Muslim issues, interacting with the media, and the political role of the imam, masjid (mosque) and Islamic centers.
Speakers Sunday include noted Muslim activist Sami al-Arian, Georgetown University Professor John Esposito, and the national political director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) Mahdi Bray.
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