26 Jun 2014

Muslims welcomes ruling that U.S. No-Fly List appeals process is unconstitutional

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/24/14) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a ruling by a federal judge in Oregon that those placed on the government’s so-called “no-fly list” are being denied their constitutional right to due process.

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U.S. District Judge Anna Brown, ruling in a lawsuit filed by 13 American Muslims who were prevented from flying through U.S. airspace, ordered the government to come up with new procedures to allow people to challenge their inclusion on the secretive no-fly list. In a 65-page opinion issued today, Judge Brown said government procedures to challenge inclusion on the list are “wholly ineffective.”

Judge Brown also ruled that the government must provide notice to those placed on the list and give the reasons for their inclusion. She ordered the government to allow the submission of evidence to refute official suspicions.

“We welcome Judge Brown’s ruling as a strong affirmation of the constitutional principle that rights, such as the right to travel freely, cannot be curtailed without due process of law,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.

Awad congratulated the ACLU for its strong leadership on challenging the government’s violation of Americans’ constitutional right to travel freely.

In January of this year, CAIR welcomed a ruling by a federal judge in Virginia that said placement on the government’s no-fly list “transforms a person into a second class citizen, or worse.”

That 32-page opinion allowed CAIR’s lawsuit against the government on behalf of Virginia resident Gulet Mohamed to go forward.

CAIR has assisted a number of other American Muslim citizens who have been stranded overseas by government actions and says travel bans are often used to for the forced recruitment of informants.

Video: CAIR Rep Says FBI Uses No-Fly List for Forced Recruitment of Muslim Informants

Video: CAIR Lawsuit Challenges Government’s ‘No-Fly’ List (Video)

Video: CAIR-LA Holds News Conference with Med Student on No-Fly List Detained in Bangkok

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.