Metro Detroit Muslims, Arab Americans Assured They Won't Be Profiled

posted on: May 5, 2011

Federal officials reassured metro Detroit Muslims and Arab Americans on Wednesday that they would not be profiled in the aftermath of Osama bin Laden’s death.

Arab-American and Muslim leaders, at a meeting in Dearborn Heights with federal law enforcement, voiced concerns that they would be profiled as authorities watch for reprisal attacks related to bin Laden’s killing.

There’s a concern that it “could lead to increased profiling,” said Dawud Walid, head of the Michigan branch of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, who attended Wednesday’s meeting.

But Margo Schlanger, national head of the office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Department of Homeland Security, said the government would not employ extra scrutiny of anyone, including Muslims, according to Walid and others who attended. She added that the federal terror alert is at the same level now as it was before bin Laden’s death.

The meeting, attended by about 80 people, was previously part of the Building Respect in Diverse Groups to Enhance Sensitivity program, created in metro Detroit after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to promote cooperation between federal law enforcement and Arab Americans.

After bin Laden’s death, the FBI said it was looking into potential revenge attacks, but added that it does not have information on specific plans.

“We’re on the same page when it comes to safety and security,” said Imad Hamad, who co-founded BRIDGES as regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

Niraj Warikoo
Detroit Free Press