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FBI Targets Middle Eastern Men in Michigan
With additional reporting by Neveen A. Salem
DETROIT, Nov 26 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The U.S. Attorney's office is targeting hundreds of Middle Eastern men in the Detroit, Michigan, area for "voluntary interviews" as it expands its investigative net for leads in the deadly September 11 attacks.
Letters from U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Collins were being mailed Monday to men with non-immigrant visas "from countries, where there are groups that support, advocate, or finance international terrorism," the letter said.
However, the letter adds, "We have no reason to believe that you are, in any way, associated with terrorist activities."
The letter is allegedly being sent to help officials find new leads on the terror attacks that left at least 4,200 dead, with the understanding that someone might have seemingly irrelevant information that could provide an important clue.
"We expect cooperation," said Collins at a media briefing Monday. "The interviews are voluntary. They are consensual and no one will be mistreated."
There have been rising concerns in the U.S. that Muslims and Arabs are being singled out for profiling and that many, over 1,000 already detained without charge, are being denied their basic civil and human rights.
The questioning, to be conducted by local law enforcement officials, would probably be done with an FBI agent present, said Collins. But the person interviewed, asked to call the U.S. attorney's office by December 4 for an appointment, would choose when and where, and an interpreter could be present, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
"We are allowing the person to set the venue of the location, presumably in a setting they will feel comfortable in speaking with a law enforcement [officer]."
Collins said that questions about religion or religious practices would be prohibited and that those doing interviews would not have authority to act if issues about immigration status arose.
However, immigration information might be sent to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), which could prompt deportation proceedings and detention.
Muslims have been repeatedly targeted and indefinitely held by the INS, some imprisoned for years in maximum-security prisons, without ever being charged with a crime and without being deported.
"If someone indicates they do not wish to cooperate, then the interviewing, or the process will cease," said Collins. He also said he would not get into a "what if" scenario if someone does not respond to the letter.
According to Collins, more than 200 of those sought for interviews are in Dearborn, a Detroit suburb, where many of the estimated 300,000 people of Arab origin in the state live. About 550 of those to be interviewed are here on student visas.
"I encourage people to cooperate," said Osama Siblani, editor of the Arab American News in Dearborn. He said officials need to find those responsible for the devastating attacks of September 11.
But he added, "I have reservations about the method they are using. It is so confusing and scaring people," he said. "We have heard conflicting reports. Even though it is voluntary in nature, it is intimidating nevertheless."
Early estimates said about 870 people with visas would receive the letters, but the number could be lower, according to William Dwyer, current president of the state's Association of Chiefs of Police, one of the agencies participating in the interviews.
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