The agents were there not to investigate, but to protect the mosque and the Muslims. What is Honest Ibe Hooper of Hamas-linked CAIR afraid that they might see or hear? “Muslim leaders debate FBI presence at mosques,” by Jerry Markon for the Washington Post, September 1 (thanks to Twostellas):
Muslim leaders are debating the wisdom of inviting FBI agents to mosques to provide protection at a time of rising anti-Muslim rhetoric and debate about the proposed Islamic community center near Ground Zero.
The issue surfaced Tuesday as word spread of a Nashville mosque’s decision to host two FBI agents at a prayer service last Saturday night. The agents discussed the investigation of a fire, suspected to be arson, at a planned mosque in nearby Murfreesboro, a project that has also triggered vehement opposition. The agents then silently observed prayers from the back row.
“I don’t think it’s really appropriate to station agents in mosques,” said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington. “It has a chilling effect on a house of worship, and we would have concerns that agents would also be gathering information on ordinary worshipers.” […]
Supervisory Special Agent Scott Augenbaum, a spokesman for the FBI’s Nashville office, said agents attended the prayer service “because we were invited guests” and to reinforce that “hate crimes and violations of civil rights are very important priorities for the FBI.”…