USAMA LADEN
30-11-2002, 09:34 AM
By: Nick Maheras, STAFF WRITER November 27, 2002
An area Muslim leader says the FBI interviewed him Nov. 21 about
potential Muslim
reaction to an American attack on Iraq.
Badi Ali, president of the Islamic Center of the Triad, a Greensboro
mosque, said the visit by two FBI agents was not the Muslim activist's
first."They are not new," he said, "but now, they are becoming more
scary.
"They (FBI) are paying attention to Muslim activists throughout the
country."
Don Causey, supervisory senior resident agent for the FBI office in
Greensboro, would not confirm or deny the visit.
"I can't comment specifically about who we contact and the nature of
those contacts," he said. "We actively contact people in the community
to discuss issues germane to the Middle East, and that would include
terrorism issues."
Ali, a native Palestinian, said he's never been arrested by the FBI.
Over the years, he has served as chairman of the N.C. Islamic Center for
Palestine as well as leading one of Greensboro's largest mosques.
"It appears that the FBI is concerned that Greensboro ... has become a
rallying point for Muslim opposition to the repressive policies of the
U.S. administration," said an e-mail Ali sent Monday to a number of
Muslims and news outlets.
"My assumption is they really think there is something (going on) in
Greensboro," he said. "They're probably curious about me.
"In my view, they want to test the reaction of the Muslim community in
case of an attack on Iraq. They just came to see our views on these
issues."
Ali said one of the agents appeared to be from the nation's capital,
while the other works in an area FBI office.
"The FBI did not arrest Imam Badi Ali, but they seem to be preparing a
case against him with the coming attack on Iraq," the e-mail stated.
Ali, who has made no secret of his views, outlined them for the federal
agents.
Ali said he told them "the Muslim nation is united in opposition to the
projected assault on Iraq," that attacks by Palestinian suicide bombers,
or "martyrs" as he calls them, are legitimate acts of resistance against
Israel as an occupying entity, and that no Muslim should apologize for
"martyrdom operations."
Ali also condemned Muslim leaders who recently met President Bush and
shared a meal with him. He claimed too that American Muslims have done
nothing against the United States, but are being persecuted and
oppressed.
Ali would not comment at length about the FBI visit.
"The FBI has the right to do their job in the community, to protect
Muslims and all Americans. These routine visits, I think, are justified
under the circumstances."
Nick Maheras can be contacted
at 888-3534 or nmaheras@hpe.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
هذه ترجمة مختصرة وبتصرف لمقال نشر في صحيفة امريكية عن احد قادة الجالية الاسلامية في مدينة جرينزبورو في ولاية نورث كارولاينا حيث زاره رجال ال ف بي اي و ان الاخ و اسمه بادي علي قال ان سبب الزيارة يبدو لجس نبض الجالية الاسلامية في حال الهجوم على العراق كما ابلغ الاخ المباحث الامريكية ان المسلمين يقفون ضد العدوان الامريكي على العراق وانهم يقفون مع العمليات الاستشهادية في فلسطين ضد الاحتلال وان أؤلئك الذين قبلوا دعوة الافطار مع بوش لا يمثلون مسلمي امريكا........
An area Muslim leader says the FBI interviewed him Nov. 21 about
potential Muslim
reaction to an American attack on Iraq.
Badi Ali, president of the Islamic Center of the Triad, a Greensboro
mosque, said the visit by two FBI agents was not the Muslim activist's
first."They are not new," he said, "but now, they are becoming more
scary.
"They (FBI) are paying attention to Muslim activists throughout the
country."
Don Causey, supervisory senior resident agent for the FBI office in
Greensboro, would not confirm or deny the visit.
"I can't comment specifically about who we contact and the nature of
those contacts," he said. "We actively contact people in the community
to discuss issues germane to the Middle East, and that would include
terrorism issues."
Ali, a native Palestinian, said he's never been arrested by the FBI.
Over the years, he has served as chairman of the N.C. Islamic Center for
Palestine as well as leading one of Greensboro's largest mosques.
"It appears that the FBI is concerned that Greensboro ... has become a
rallying point for Muslim opposition to the repressive policies of the
U.S. administration," said an e-mail Ali sent Monday to a number of
Muslims and news outlets.
"My assumption is they really think there is something (going on) in
Greensboro," he said. "They're probably curious about me.
"In my view, they want to test the reaction of the Muslim community in
case of an attack on Iraq. They just came to see our views on these
issues."
Ali said one of the agents appeared to be from the nation's capital,
while the other works in an area FBI office.
"The FBI did not arrest Imam Badi Ali, but they seem to be preparing a
case against him with the coming attack on Iraq," the e-mail stated.
Ali, who has made no secret of his views, outlined them for the federal
agents.
Ali said he told them "the Muslim nation is united in opposition to the
projected assault on Iraq," that attacks by Palestinian suicide bombers,
or "martyrs" as he calls them, are legitimate acts of resistance against
Israel as an occupying entity, and that no Muslim should apologize for
"martyrdom operations."
Ali also condemned Muslim leaders who recently met President Bush and
shared a meal with him. He claimed too that American Muslims have done
nothing against the United States, but are being persecuted and
oppressed.
Ali would not comment at length about the FBI visit.
"The FBI has the right to do their job in the community, to protect
Muslims and all Americans. These routine visits, I think, are justified
under the circumstances."
Nick Maheras can be contacted
at 888-3534 or nmaheras@hpe.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
هذه ترجمة مختصرة وبتصرف لمقال نشر في صحيفة امريكية عن احد قادة الجالية الاسلامية في مدينة جرينزبورو في ولاية نورث كارولاينا حيث زاره رجال ال ف بي اي و ان الاخ و اسمه بادي علي قال ان سبب الزيارة يبدو لجس نبض الجالية الاسلامية في حال الهجوم على العراق كما ابلغ الاخ المباحث الامريكية ان المسلمين يقفون ضد العدوان الامريكي على العراق وانهم يقفون مع العمليات الاستشهادية في فلسطين ضد الاحتلال وان أؤلئك الذين قبلوا دعوة الافطار مع بوش لا يمثلون مسلمي امريكا........