Upon the invitation of former US Attorney, and now Seattle University Law professor, John McKay, CAIR-WA Executive Director Arsalan Bukhari joined Islamic School of Seattle co-founder Samia El-Moslimany and attorney Salah Dandan on a panel focused on the impact of national security policies on American Muslims.
The event took place on September 13, 2011 at Seattle University Law School in Professor McKay's class where students had been looking at post 9/11 actions by the US government and their impact on communities, particularly American Muslims and persons of Middle Eastern descent in our region.
The audience comprised approximately thirty persons, mostly students in their second and third year of law school, who had studied applicable statutes and case law, and had previously engaged in discussions with individuals responsible for both executing the laws and dealing with their aftermath. These individuals included former FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Charlie Mandigo, Immigration and Customs Enforcement SAC Leigh Winchell, and Chief U.S. District Judge Bob Lasnik.
The event on Sept. 13, moderated by Professor McKay, consisted of introductions, brief presentations from each panelist, and then a vibrant question and answer session. Panelists discussed the recent use of FBI informants in mosques across the nation, warrantless surveillance, and the current state of trust between communities and federal law enforcement, among a variety of other issues.
Panelists also discussed the increased engagement and intentional relationship-building with law enforcement by American Muslim communities across the nation, including in the Seattle area, where the Seattle Police Department's "Muslim Sikh Arab Community Advisory Council" has conducted monthly community meetings since immediately after September 11, 2001. Panelists also discussed the positive contributions American Muslims have made since the Sept. 11 including participation of thousands of Muslims in service projects, and increased interfaith engagement.
CAIR-WA Civil Rights Coordinator Jennifer Gist, who also attended the event, had a chance to speak with several students who expressed interest in internship and volunteer opportunities at CAIR-WA. Many of those students later followed up by submitting internship and volunteer applications and will soon be interviewed for positions at our office.
