Written by Don Byrd
Seeking to fix the damage caused by news that it had engaged in systematic surveillance of Muslim communities in New Jersey, including houses of worship, the New York Police Department told a gathering of leaders that it no longer makes use of such tactics. AP has more:
Muslim leaders who attended Wednesday’s meeting said it was a good first step.
“The discussion I think is laying a foundation for us to move forward, an opportunity for us to build, or rebuild, more communication, more cooperation, and hopefully improving the trust between the Muslim community and law enforcement agencies,” said Imam Wahy-ud Deen Shareef of Masjid Waarith ud Deen in Irvington, who is a plaintiff in the federal suit against the NYPD.
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[State Attorney General Jeffrey] Chiesa told the group that relations between the NYPD and New Jersey law enforcement had improved in recent months, largely due to monthly meetings and increased transparency between the agencies.
Following legitimate leads regarding criminal activity is one thing. Suspecting an entire faith and secretly attempting to infiltrate and observe its houses of worship is quite another, and an outrage. Chiesa insists that an investigation reveals no laws were broken in the surveillance, but the federal lawsuit continues. Stay tuned.
