|
On December 15, 2011, IIC, along with 40 other Muslim and South Asian organizations, signed on to a letter to President Obama, urging him to veto the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Here is an excerpt from the letter: "The NDAA, as currently drafted, will endanger the fundamental civil rights and liberties
upon which this country was founded. Subsection D of the NDAA may be read to authorize the
indefinite military detention of U.S. citizens or other persons seized within the United States
whenever the executive believes that they are “affiliated” with al Qaeda. Even more alarmingly,
we fear it will be interpreted to require such detention in many cases. Whereas Article III of our
Constitution remits similarly serious charges to the federal courts and installs stringent
evidentiary rules, the NDAA allows for mere allegation to strip a citizen or lawful permanent
resident of core constitutional rights, including (but not limited to) the right to remain silent, the
right to a jury trial, the right to counsel, the right against self-incrimination, and the right to
confront witnesses. Another section of the NDAA turns this option into a mandate—perhaps
forcing the executive to treat suspicion as sufficient to snuff out constitutional rights.
This bill places all Americans at risk. But the burden of these provisions will be
predictably felt by a discrete minority – American Muslims. This is not the first time since the
terrible events of 9/11 that lawmakers have reacted to the threat of a small group of violent
extremists by imposing systematic and onerous deprivations of core American liberties on all
Americans and all members of a community based on their religion. The NDAA opens the
gateway to indefinite detention without official charges, allegations, or the guarantee of a trial.
Accordingly, provisions of the bill flout the basic principles of both liberty and equality upon
which the Constitution rests."
|
|
|
The Islamic Information Center is proud to announce its second annual convention, the American Leadership Initiative for Muslims, to take place on September 2 - 4, 2011 in Bethesda, MD. We are seeking the best and brightest from each community, professionals, students, community activists, and anyone who wants to make a difference to attend this action-oriented convention. This convention is different than any other type of Muslim convention in a few ways. The American Leadership Initiative for Muslims Convention is dedicated to brainstorming actionable ideas, plans, and initiatives to elevate the status of our community in the United States. At the conclusion of the convention, attendees will return to their home communities with specific plans of action to effectuate these goals, and the Islamic Information Center will help to coordinate these nationwide initiatives throughout the year.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
 | Home of the Navy's U.S. Fifth Fleet, Bahrain is an important U.S. ally, and the United States has been very muted about the regime's brutality. Now the Pentagon intends to sell $53 million worth of armored Humvees and TOW missiles to Bahrain. Congress must make its voice heard that we oppose this sale. The United States should not reward a regime that violently suppresses its people. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Congressman James McGovern (D-MA) have stepped up and are leading the fight in Congress to stop the arms sale to Bahrain. They introduced a joint Resolution of Disapproval in Congress that will block this sale immediately. But your Senators and your Representatives need to hear from you! Tell Congress to stop arming the Bahraini dictatorship with weapons by supporting this resolution today! Please click on the link to sign the petition. |
|
|
|
