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March 12, 2013

"Mapping Muslims" Report Documents Chilling Effect of Police Surveillance 
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A new report says the New York City Police Department’s efforts to spy
on Muslim Americans have had a chilling effect on freedom of speech and
religion. A coalition of civil liberties groups says NYPD surveillance
of Muslim student groups and mosques across the Northeast silenced
activism and religious expression as individuals attempted to "refrain
from appearing overtly 'Muslim' to avoid triggering surveillance."
Soheed Amin with the Brooklyn College Islamic Society spoke at a news
conference Monday.

Soheed Amin: "We Muslims are not asking for any special treatment. We
are asking to be treated the same, we are asking for us to be able to
look at the NYPD as our protectors not as people who bring terror to us
and make us terrified of living here and dealing with them and speaking
with them — and speaking even with our own Muslim brothers and
sisters."

 

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