No-fly list used by FBI to coerce Muslims into informing, lawsuit claims
Source: The Guardian
In February 2012 Shinwari, who has lived in the US since he was 14, flew to Afghanistan to get married. He says that before he could get home to Omaha, Nebraska, he was twice detained and questioned by FBI agents who wanted to know if he knew anything about national security threats. A third FBI visit followed when he got home.
The following month, after Shinwari bought another plane ticket for a temporary job in Connecticut, he couldnt get a boarding pass. Airport police told him he had been placed on the US no-fly list, although he had never in his life been accused of breaking any law. Another FBI visit soon followed, with agents wanting to know about the local Omaha community, did I know anyone whos a threat, he says.
Im just very frustrated, [and I said] what can I do to clear my name? recalls Shinwari, 30. And thats where it was mentioned to me: you help us, we help you. We know you dont have a job; well give you money.
Shinwari is one of four American Muslims in a new lawsuit who accuse the FBI of placing them on the no-fly list, either to intimidate them into becoming informants or to retaliate against them for declining.
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/23/no-fly-list-fbi-coerce-muslims
kickysnana
(3,908 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)K&R
loudsue
(14,087 posts)and it is so true.
Baitball Blogger
(46,703 posts)I had a friend whose two boys got in trouble with the law. They were told their sentences would be reduced if they became informers. So they turned in the latino kids in the neighborhood. I have no idea about the details in either case. But it sure does sounds like coercion promotes racism.
Dustlawyer
(10,495 posts)since 12/2001. They never purge the list!
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)Supposedly, it's a long process to get removed from the list. Is the no fly list just composed of names ? This has to be a common problem if airline employees don't have access to any other identifying information.