The Anti-Terrorism Law

Since the passing of a new law in 1996 which was created in response to two major terrorist bombings on American soil, American Muslims have been fearing their civil liberties would be compromised. After the World Trade Center and Oklahoma bombings, Congress enacted the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 and legislation which authorizes the use of secret evidence. According to legal advisor Kamal Nawash of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the Anti-Terrorism law "makes it a crime to knowingly raise and contribute funds, donate educational and humanitarian aid, or to provide lodging, transportation or other forms of 'material support' to designated foreign groups." Conviction of this crime can land a person up to 10 years in prison.

How has this affected Muslims in the United States? One example is the case of former University of Florida professor Dr. Mazen Al-Najjar. For nearly two years Al-Najjar has been incarcerated at the Brandenton, Florida, prison held on no charge except for the fact that he was imprisoned as a result of "secret evidence."

In an article written for the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (WRMEA), former Congressman Paul Findley cites the anti-terrorism law as a new form of McCarthyism; the savaging of civil liberties in the name of national security. During the Cold War it was Senator Joseph McCarthy who led the Communist "witch hunts" by lashing out accusations and providing his own so-called evidence to back his outrageous claims against many innocent people. This time it is the Federal Bureau of Investigation leading the crusade against supposed threats to national security, albeit with the use of secret evidence. In his article, Findley says "The anti-terrorism bill, I firmly believe, is inconsistent with our traditions and principles. It seems to me unwarranted, indeed outrageous, to extradite anyone on the basis of secret documents."

According to ADC, House Minority Whip David E. Bonior (D-Mich) has been consistently outspoken about the anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bigotry that has been occurring in the United States. In February, Bonior met with Al-Najjar and later brought his case to the attention of the President as well as National Security Advisor Sandy Berger and other members of Congress. Bonior also personally delivered a letter to the President that was written by the daughter of the imprisoned professor.

What was Dr. Mazen Al-Najjar’s crime? Because of the Anti-Terrorism law, even Al-Najjar’s lawyers don’t know. What is known about Al-Najjar is that he is a Muslim of Palestinian descent seeking U.S. citizenship. He is a former professor and father of three who like most Palestinians shares the belief in justice for the Palestinians living under Israeli rule. He says he is not a terrorist and condemns terrorism.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic