More on FBI and Muslim Relations in CA

August 17, 2004

Source: North County Times

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/08/17/special_reports/religion/8_16_0422_08_18.txt

On August 17, 2004 North County Times reported that, "the faithful who come to worship at the Masjid Al-Ittehad in Vista on Friday crowd the prayer hall and spill over into the courtyard. At this masjid, or mosque, Nader Dehani serves as imam, conducting the service, which opens with a call to prayer. He stresses to the congregation the importance of adherence to the laws of Islam, the Shari'a. He offers words of encouragement to all in getting through the difficult times everyone is facing. He offers blessings. And on some days, while others share a meal and fellowship, Dehani and other members of the mosque leadership sit in the building's small office and politely answer questions posed by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. No one protests. No one complains. No one mentions that the free exercise clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits government interference with a person's right to practice their religion."