FBI to Conduct Voluntary Interviews of Muslims

July 17, 2004

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56080-2004Jul16.html?referrer=email

On July 17, 2004 The Washington Post reported that, "FBI agents have launched a series of interviews of Muslims and Arab Americans in the Washington area and across the country, hoping to glean information that could prevent a major terrorist attack during this election year. A few dozen voluntary interviews of community leaders, students, business people and others have been conducted so far, according to attorneys and Muslim activists. Authorities said they do not know how many people will be contacted, but the effort is expected to expand significantly in the next week or so. The new round of questioning is also far more targeted than an earlier program of voluntary interviews with men from Arab and Muslim countries, which followed the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and was criticized for being ineffective and using profiling."