Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

The Arab American Institute (AAI) endorses policies that make our country strong and secure, while protecting the civil rights and civil liberties enshrined in the Constitution.

The sweeping counterterrorism measures implemented during the emotional aftermath of September 11th were presented as necessary protections, but were based on the false dichotomy of safeguarding our national security or our civil liberties. The result since has been a steady erosion of our most basic freedoms; enforcement measures that foster mistrust; and policies that have proved both unreasonable and ineffective. Many of these initiatives have targeted Arab Americans and continue to be of particular concern, such as the greatly increased powers of search and seizure, enhanced by provisions in the PATRIOT Act and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act; racial profiling; selective law enforcement; prosecutorial discretion; the use of secret evidence; indefinite detention; lack of due process; and refusal of the right of habeas corpus.

AAI advocates for the restoration of our fundamental civil liberties while supporting policies that reflect our core values and principles as patriotic Americans. The federal, state and local officials who work to protect us must demonstrate their commitment to respect fully the civil rights and liberties of all U.S. citizens and legal immigrants. To ensure this, Congress should institutionalize regular oversight of executive departments and agencies; provide formal reports on Executive measures; review controversial counterterrorism legislation and revise or repeal any statute that provides opportunity for egregious civil liberties violations in the name of national security.

From AAI

• CMUs: Not Your Tata’s Prison Unit — 09/01/2010
• Summary of Hill Briefing on Muslims in America — 08/31/2010
• Former Bush Staff Members Repudiate Anti-Muslim Rhetoric — 08/30/2010
• Dr. Zogby on FRANCE 24 - “Mosque Row: Zero Tolerance at Ground Zero” — 08/27/2010
• Hill Briefing on Muslims in America: Myths and Realities — 08/27/2010

From Washington

• Durbin Statement Regarding Islamic Center Controversy — 08/22/2010
• Citing Conflict With Federal Law, Department of Justice Challenges Arizona Immigration Law — 07/06/2010
• Statements on H. Res. 867 (In opposition to the Goldstone Report) November 4, 2009 U.S. House of Rep — 05/12/2010
• TSA Nationality Screening Guidelines Revoked — 04/06/2010
• Selected Statements against H. Res. 867 — 11/18/2009

From Dr. Zogby

• Trying to Be Hopeful About Peace — 08/30/2010
• For Shame! Fear Is Back, with a Vengeance — 08/23/2010
• Looking for the Wahabs — 08/16/2010
• GOP Drift — 08/09/2010
• Viewpoint with James Zogby: Josh Kraushaar, Michelle Richardson, Andrew Serwer — 08/06/2010

Resources

• AAI Issue Brief: National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) — 08/16/2010
• AAI Issue Brief: Enhanced TSA Screening Practices — 08/16/2010
• AAI Issue Brief: Search and Seizure at U.S. Borders — 08/13/2010
• AAI Issue Brief: Profiling Based on Race, Ethnicity, Religion, and National Origin — 08/13/2010
• Opinion Poll: 2nd Oliver Wyman / Zogby survey: GCC Attitudes on Labor Reform — 05/12/2010