Tampa may have had its own ground zero along Howard Avenue had concerned Muslims not informed law enforcement that someone they knew might pose a danger to our community because of his extremist views.
The FBI conducted a sting that resulted in the conviction of a Muslim American who said he wanted to blow up a South Tampa nightspot and then drive to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and detonate a suicide bomb.
So it seems counterproductive for the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to warn Muslims not to talk to the FBI without a lawyer being present. It is one thing to advise Muslims there may be occasions when a lawyer’s presence is advisable. But a blanket call for an attorney is excessive.
The group should be encouraging Muslims to cooperate with law enforcement, which is particularly important now as the Islamic State makes overt threats that extremists in this country may consider a call to action.
As it has for years now, the FBI routinely visits mosques to make connections. As local FBI spokesman David Couvertier told the Tribune’s Keith Morelli, agents “have been going out doing outreach, not only with the Muslims but other communities as well. We are trying to build bonds to let them know we are here.”
But those visits are now being viewed as a threat to Muslims, according to a CAIR advisory to Muslims.
A spokesman for the group says the FBI is threatening Muslims with arrest if they don’t agree to spy on other Muslims. “We think it’s unacceptable to target people for questioning just because of their religious affiliation,” said CAIR spokesman Hassan Shibly.
We disagree. It is reasonable to reach out to Muslims precisely because there is a radicalized sector of that religion threatening our country. If there had been homeland threats from, say, the Irish Republican Army, it wouldn’t be unusual for the FBI to contact Catholics.
The FBI’s proactive stance should reassure all Americans, including Muslims. Imagine the outcry if the bomb had been detonated outside the South Tampa nightclub and it came to light that the FBI had failed to vigorously respond to a tip about someone considered a threat to innocent people enjoying a night on the town. Or imagine the backlash against Muslims if a local Muslim had been involved in an act of terrorism.
CAIR, to its credit, says it cooperates with law enforcement and will be the first to pass along a threat when it hears of one. It says it encourages cooperation with law enforcement. And federal prosecutors were effusive in their thanks to the Muslim community for the information that led to the undercover sting earlier this year. A federal judge this week sentenced the defendant to 40 years in prison.
Perhaps agents elsewhere have used strong-arm tactics, but there is no evidence local FBI agents have been abusive. Recommending Muslims get legal counsel whenever speaking to the FBI could stifle the free flow of information.
Given the severity of the terrorism threat we now endure, the FBI can’t simply wait and hope the information is passed along.
The FBI must respect everyone’s civil liberties, but never waver in its pursuit of terrorists. CAIR can’t be faulted for wanting to ensure local Muslims are treated justly, but the organization should see that in most cases talking candidly with the FBI is better than lawyering up.