Surveillance of Immigrants from 24 Muslim States Continues

October 27, 2006

Author: Moinuddin Naser (trans)

Source: Weekly Thikana

http://www.indypressny.org/article.php3?ArticleID=2989

A case has been brought against the Department of Homeland Security seeking information about the strict regulations the United States administration has instituted for immigrants from 24 Muslim countries, including those from Bangladesh.

The case, filed by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in Washington D.C., stated that 237 Muslim immigrants were arrested prior to the elections held in November 2004. The case noted that there is still no explanation for why the Muslim immigrants were suddenly arrested. It stated that several attempts have been made in the last two years to gain information about the arrests, but the authorities have not answered inquiries.

The case has been filed as a Freedom of Information Act request. American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Executive Director Karim Shova said that under the Special Registration program, immigrants of a particular age group and from some 25 countries registering about 80,000 people. At the time of registration all information about them was collected, followed by the deportation of at least 13,000.