(no subject)
New York (CNN) -- A U.S. Muslim leader said that relations between Muslims and the New York City government are excellent but don't expect a group of prominent clerics to show up at an interfaith breakfast Friday morning.
Skipping the annual breakfast, hosted by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is "an opportunity to send a message" about controversial surveillance tactics, said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
The controversy stems from a series of news reports that raised questions about the nature of a Central Intelligence Agency partnership with the New York Police Department, pointing to the alleged surveillance of Muslims living in New York.
Awad told CNN that the Muslim community has respect for Bloomberg and has good ties with him and the police, but he added that the reports are shocking.
"These tactics, without due process, without evidence of crime, we believe (are) unconstitutional and unlawful. That's where the shock comes from," he said.
Bloomberg should have condemned the tactics and ordered an investigation when he learned about them, Awad said.
The Associated Press reported that following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the city, the CIA helped the NYPD build intelligence programs used to spy on Muslims, adding that a CIA officer was involved in intelligence collection in Muslim communities.
The reports said police have used informers to monitor sermons during religious services. In addition the reports said police officials keep tabs on clerics and gather intelligence on taxi cab drivers and food-cart vendors, who are often Muslim, in New York.
Friday's breakfast is meant to highlight religious diversity and tolerance among New Yorkers.
On Thursday, Bloomberg touted law enforcement efforts to thwart future terrorist attacks in New York, telling reporters that "we obey the law" and that authorities "don't target anybody," instead focusing on leads.
Awad said that he supports the police, "but to be engaged in wholesale ethnic and religious profiling is wrong."
Last week, the CIA announced its internal watchdog found no issue or evidence of wrong-doing in the spy agency's partnership with the NYPD following an investigation into the matter.
The NYPD, meanwhile, blasted the published reports as "fictional."
"There have been at least 14 terrorist plots against New York City since the 9/11 attacks, and the NYPD is actively engaged in making certain we are not attacked again," said police spokesman Paul Browne. "A recent analysis shows that 44 terrorists who have been captured or killed since 2002 resided in the five boroughs (the city's political subdivisions) or immediate metropolitan area."
Browne said the "use of NYPD undercover officers was grossly exaggerated in the AP series."
The CIA has also previously said that suggestions that it engaged in domestic spying were "simply wrong."
The spy agency said the published report "mischaracterized the nature and scope" of the CIA's support for New York police.
An agency officer observing police efforts "would not be involved in law enforcement activities," said an official with knowledge of the proceedings.
But New York-area Muslims and civil liberties advocates have called for investigations and hearings after the series was published in August.
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Skipping the annual breakfast, hosted by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is "an opportunity to send a message" about controversial surveillance tactics, said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
The controversy stems from a series of news reports that raised questions about the nature of a Central Intelligence Agency partnership with the New York Police Department, pointing to the alleged surveillance of Muslims living in New York.
Awad told CNN that the Muslim community has respect for Bloomberg and has good ties with him and the police, but he added that the reports are shocking.
"These tactics, without due process, without evidence of crime, we believe (are) unconstitutional and unlawful. That's where the shock comes from," he said.
Bloomberg should have condemned the tactics and ordered an investigation when he learned about them, Awad said.
The Associated Press reported that following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the city, the CIA helped the NYPD build intelligence programs used to spy on Muslims, adding that a CIA officer was involved in intelligence collection in Muslim communities.
The reports said police have used informers to monitor sermons during religious services. In addition the reports said police officials keep tabs on clerics and gather intelligence on taxi cab drivers and food-cart vendors, who are often Muslim, in New York.
Friday's breakfast is meant to highlight religious diversity and tolerance among New Yorkers.
On Thursday, Bloomberg touted law enforcement efforts to thwart future terrorist attacks in New York, telling reporters that "we obey the law" and that authorities "don't target anybody," instead focusing on leads.
Awad said that he supports the police, "but to be engaged in wholesale ethnic and religious profiling is wrong."
Last week, the CIA announced its internal watchdog found no issue or evidence of wrong-doing in the spy agency's partnership with the NYPD following an investigation into the matter.
The NYPD, meanwhile, blasted the published reports as "fictional."
"There have been at least 14 terrorist plots against New York City since the 9/11 attacks, and the NYPD is actively engaged in making certain we are not attacked again," said police spokesman Paul Browne. "A recent analysis shows that 44 terrorists who have been captured or killed since 2002 resided in the five boroughs (the city's political subdivisions) or immediate metropolitan area."
Browne said the "use of NYPD undercover officers was grossly exaggerated in the AP series."
The CIA has also previously said that suggestions that it engaged in domestic spying were "simply wrong."
The spy agency said the published report "mischaracterized the nature and scope" of the CIA's support for New York police.
An agency officer observing police efforts "would not be involved in law enforcement activities," said an official with knowledge of the proceedings.
But New York-area Muslims and civil liberties advocates have called for investigations and hearings after the series was published in August.
Source