The Muslim Student Association and Arab Student Union at the
University of Michigan-Dearborn gathered representatives from federal agencies
and civil right groups Monday on campus for a forum titled “Know Your
Rights,” that raised awareness on the rights and responsibilities students
have as Americans.

“We are trying to address any concerns that students,
neighbors or friends might have in regards to rights or responsibilities. We
are in dire need for students to know about any new laws or policies that are
going on,” Sara Alrayyashi of the MSA said. 

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Barbara
McQuade, says there’s much fear surrounding Islam.  “Blaming all Muslims and Arabs for the acts of the
hijackers of 9/11 is like blaming all Catholics for the acts of Timothy McVeigh
of the Oklahoma City bombing,” McQuade said.

Executive Director of the Council on American Islamic
Relations Michigan, Dawud Walid, said CAIR is receiving complaints about
federal agents approaching and questioning citizens on their religious views
and stance on the Arab revolution in the Middle East. 

Those in that situation have the right for an attorney to be
present. Asking for the agent’s card or badge is another right citizens are
entitled to. Such incidents should be reported to local civil rights groups.
Information on the card and badge will help the groups or attorneys contact the
agent. There have been occurrences of people falsely posing as agents to
collect money.  Asking for
identification helps prevent fraud.

“You have the right and the responsibility to question
and seek accountability from law enforcement. It is your right, and your
responsibility, because they are public servants who serve us through our tax
payer dollars,” Walid said.

Offering material support to political groups that are
classified as terrorist organizations by the United States is illegal.  Walid says it’s acceptable to verbally
express support for an organization, but not to support it financially.  

McQuade said offering material support to such groups is a
violation of the material support statue, whether or not it’s for a good cause
including building hospitals or orphanages.  A list of political groups or individuals the United States
prohibits material support to can be found on the U.S. Treasury Department or
State Department’s website according to McQuade. 

Walid says Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents have
been seen driving outside mosques. Citizens can contact the local CAIR,
American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee or American Civil Liberties Union
branches to complain if they feel it’s necessary.

ICE agent Brian M. Moskowitz, who is in charge of
investigations for Michigan and Ohio, defended ICE at the forum.  “I can tell you what we don’t do.
We never ever drive down the street looking to see if we can find someone who
doesn’t belong here. Never, ever, ever. We’re looking for some specific person
who there is some allegation against,” he said. 

Imad Hamad, regional director of the ADC Michigan, says he’s
met with representatives from federal agencies for about 10 years. “Not
every experience we have with ICE was necessarily a bad one or a negative one.
I can cite cases where they were very responsive and very punitive to solve
tough issues,” Hamad said.

There is much concern growing over informants spying in
mosques. Andrew Arena, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit division,
said he’s not allowed to have informants at a mosque unless something
suspicious is going on there.

“If your imam…preaches the true faith, we have no
right to be there, and we’re not. If we are, I’m going to lose my job and
somebody from law enforcement is going to jail,” Arena said.  “But if a religious leader is
supporting terrorism, the FBI has a responsibility to investigate.”

“If a Catholic priest stands up in my church and says,
give money to the Irish Republican Army, which is a designated terrorist
organization, to kill British soldiers and drive them out of Northern Ireland,
I have a right, duty, and responsibility to be in that church to investigate
it,” Arena added.

Hamad said Americans have the responsibility to be concerned
and speak out when they witness other Americans being discriminated
against. 

“The protection of civil rights is our common
responsibility. Not only to protect them, not only to preserve them, but also
to advance them,” he added. 

PHOTO: Tarek Baydoun (L-R) of the ACLU, U.S. Attorney for
MI’s Eastern District Barbara McQuade, FBI Special Agent of Detroit Andy Arena, and
ADC-MI Regional Director Imad Hamad.