CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad speaks during a Wednesday press conference in Washington on the Muslim community’s role in notifying law enforcement of potential militant activity by five American men in Pakistan.

American Muslim families and civil rights leaders played a major role in alerting law enforcement about five Virginia men arrested in Pakistan on Wednesday for allegedly trying to connect with militant groups there.
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) officials said a group of distraught parents met with the organization in Washington on Monday after being unable to locate their five sons. The families found a video left behind by one son that CAIR officials described as a disturbing farewell message.

“Immediately we urged the families to contact the FBI,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad, “and we connected them on the same day with the FBI and we also put them in touch with lawyers to make sure that their constitutional rights are preserved while this case is being investigated.”

The five men, who ranged in age from 19 to 25, disappeared in November.

Pakistani police have said the men had been trying to connect with a militant organization affiliated with the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Pakistan’s troubled tribal region along the Afghan border.

Officials identified the men as Umer Farooq, Ahmed Abdullah, Waqar Khan — of Pakistani descent, Ramy Zamzam — of Egyptian descent, and Aman Yasser — of Yemeni descent.

“It was the Muslim community that came forward, took the lead on this case, brought the information to law enforcement authorities and is in continuing cooperation with law enforcement authorites as this investigation goes forward,” said CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper.

“We thank the families and we applaud their courage,” said Awad during a Wednesday press conference. “…We are going to launch a major campaign of education to refute the misuse of… verses in the Qur’an or the misuse of certain greivances in the Muslim world.”