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Secret agent admits writing anti-Muslim graffiti |
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WASHINGTON, 27 July — Muslim American organizations are thanking the Justice Department’s swift action against a US Secret Service agent who admitted responsibility for anti-Muslim graffiti found in the home of a Dearborn, Michigan terrorism suspect July 18. The agent, a 10-year veteran whose name has not been released, was suspended from the US Attorney’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Detroit on Wednesday after he admitted writing an anti-Islamic slur on a Muslim prayer calendar during a search of the suspect’s home. Relatives of Omar Shishani, 47, the Jordanian-American man arrested while allegedly carrying $12 million dollars of counterfeit checks at Detroit Airport, said they found the words "Islam is Evil" and "Christ is King" written on a Muslim prayer calendar attached to Shishani’s refrigerator after a search by the Secret Service and the FBI. Federal authorities say the agent is a religious man who had no prior disciplinary actions at the agency. On Monday, CAIR, the Council on America-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, wrote a letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft asking him to investigate the incident. "We are pleased that authorities took such swift action in both investigating this incident and in dealing with the agent involved," said CAIR Communications Coordinator Hodan Hassan. "We hope this sends a signal to the law enforcement community that such bigoted behavior will not be tolerated," said Hassan, adding the incident highlights the need for religious sensitivity training to be given to agents working with the American Muslim and Arab-American communities. Imad Hamad, Midwest regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, ADC, praised authorities for swiftly investigating a complaint that many initially greeted incredulously. "The good message here is that our law enforcement agencies are upholding their zero-tolerance (discrimination policy)," he said. "It shows America at its best in dealing with issues pertaining to bigotry." "The Secret Service does not, and will not tolerate racial, cultural or religious bias," said Mark Connolly, the agency spokesman. "The Secret Service regrets the unprofessional action taken by this individual." Jeffrey Collins, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan told journalists: "This unprofessional conduct by a single agent is a gross aberration and a great embarrassment..." Collins said the agent could face criminal charges, including civil rights violations and exceeding authority during the execution of a search warrant. Shishani’s attorney, Nabih Ayad, told journalists yesterday that the agent’s action "undermined the credibility" of the task force and the case against his client, who is being held without bond. "It is really disturbing," Ayad said.
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