Press Room

AAI in the News

As Agency Hunts Terror Suspect, Cooperation Vital

By Andrea Robinson
The Miami Herald
Posted on Tuesday March 25, 2003

In a joint press conference that underscored the delicacy of their relationship, the FBI and representatives of South Florida’s Arab-American community committed to cooperate as investigators pursue a Saudi Arabian man from Broward County who may be linked to al Qaeda.

The FBI, acknowledging the worries of many Arab Americans, promised to ‘’aggressively prosecute hate crimes’’ against Muslims and Arab Americans.

Local Arab leaders said they would help in the search for Adnan Gulshair El’ Shukri-jumah, who is wanted for questioning by federal agents who suspect he may be involved in planning terrorist acts.

On Monday, the FBI said it had received more than 200 tips on El’ Shukri-jumah, some from the Arab community.

But Arab Americans also asked for assurances that the FBI would protect the privacy and civil rights of people who come forward with information. Some people fear they would lose their jobs if their employer knew they were talking to the FBI, said Parvez Ahmed, Florida chair of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Ahmed said he also asked federal agents to uphold El’ Shukri-jumah’s civil rights. He said that any legal action should take place publicly, ``so there would be no suspicions about failure to follow due process.’’

Hector Pesquera, special agent in charge of the Miami FBI office, acknowledged that some perceptions would be hard to change.

‘’The fact we’re here together means a lot,’’ he said.

The collaboration follows a series of local meetings between federal agents and Arab community leaders about the lack of trust many Muslims have in government officials, particularly since 9/11. Community members are concerned about hate crimes and profiling.

Last week, federal officials said they were seeking El’ Shukri-jumah, who was named by people in custody who are high in al Qaeda.

‘’[He] has been identified as a very, very, serious threat to U.S. interests at home and abroad,’’ Pesquera said. He did not elaborate.

El’ Shukri-jumah, 27, lived with his parents in Miramar. His father, Shaykh Gulshari Muhammad El’Shukri-jumah, said he is now living in Morocco and that he last saw his son in March 2001.

Pesquera noted that Arab community leaders had encouraged members to come forward with information about El’ Shukri-jumah.

‘’We received a lot of information. We’re being very aggressive about this,’’ Pesquera said, during a press conference at FBI offices in North Miami Beach. He did not say if any tips had yielded information about El’ Shukri-jumah’s whereabouts.

Abdallah Al-Zuabi, a member of the Arab-American Institute, said the cooperation in South Florida was part of a national effort to help the U.S. government.

‘’We’re standing hand in hand in these matters,’’ Al-Zuabi said.

Arab Americans around the nation say they are increasingly concerned about harassment or retaliation by U.S. citizens.

Ahmed said he had fielded several calls from Florida residents who complained of harassment, intimidation or verbal slurs because of their ethnicity or appearance.

Pesquera said his office had not received any complaints. He added, though: ``We want to assure them that the FBI will aggressively prosecute hate crimes [committed] against them.’’

Speaking on behalf of local law enforcement, Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne said police officers would be watching for violations.

‘’Hate crimes in the course of this war will not be tolerated,’’ he said.

Physical assaults against Muslims have been reported in several states, including one incident in Yorba Linda, Calif., which left a Muslim teenager badly beaten by a group.