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

• 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
• AAI Statement on Islamic Cultural Center in Lower Manhattan — 08/26/2010

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
• TSA Nationality Screening Guidelines Revoked — 04/06/2010

From Dr. Zogby

• Viewpoint with James Zogby: P.J. Crowley, Robert Wexler, Hilary Shelton — 08/02/2010
• Viewpoint with James Zogby: Laura Murphy, Celinda Lake, Farhana Khera, Abdullah Abdullah — 05/20/2010
• Viewpoint with James Zogby: David Frum, Bruce Morrison, Amjad Atallah, Ahmed Ahmed — 04/30/2010
• Viewpoint with James Zogby: David Cole — 02/26/2010
• Viewpoint with James Zogby: Evelyn Garcia, Robert Malley, Steven Clemons, Mike German — 01/15/2010

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
• Hill Briefing: Targeting Needles, or Adding More Hay?: Airport Profiling, ‘Countries of Interest’ — 01/11/2010