The Muslim groups that brought this suit in the first place had tremendous media sympathy, and they still ended up losing in court. They ran up against a judge who sensibly observed that “the police could not have monitored New Jersey for Muslim terrorist activities without monitoring the Muslim community itself.” And that is the point of the suit and of this new appeal as well: to clear away obstacles to jihad activity, so that the jihad can advance unimpeded.
“Muslim residents and businesses appeal legality of police surveillance program,” by Hannan Adely for The Record, March 21:
NEWARK — A group of Muslim residents, imams and businesses in New Jersey have appealed last month’s ruling by a U.S. District Court judge to dismiss their case against the City of New York that challenged the legality of a police surveillance program.
The appeal was filed Friday morning, one month after Judge William Martini dismissed Hassan v. City of New York, which alleged that surveillance by New York City police violated constitutional rights by targeting Muslims on the basis of religion.
Martini said the plaintiffs did not show discrimination or injury, and that any harm they suffered would have been caused not by the surveillance itself, but by news reporting of the secret surveillance by the Associated Press. The appeal was filed in the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia.
The AP obtained documents and wrote a series of stories starting in August 2011 that revealed a vast surveillance program across state lines. The NYPD secretly monitored Muslims at businesses, universities and mosques, including ones in Paterson and Newark, as well as student groups at 16 Northeast colleges, including Rutgers University, according to documents obtained by the AP.
Police allegedly listened in on sermons and conversations at mosques and reported back what they heard. Officers also recorded license plate numbers, mounted cameras on light poles, mapped and photographed mosques, and listed ethnic makeup of businesses in police reports, and they monitored student websites and emails.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Police Department maintained that the surveillance program was legal and necessary and that police collected information that was publicly available to know where terrorists might go to lie low. The police used informants only to follow leads, they said.
Lead plaintiff Syed Farhaj Hassan, an Iraq war veteran and a military intelligence specialist, said he was concerned that being associated with a mosque under surveillance would blemish his record and jeopardize his job and security clearance.
A principal said she believed her career prospects had been hurt because of her association with two girls’ schools that were under surveillance. Also, the Muslim Students Association said students did not feel secure joining the group or participating in events or discussions, and businesses claimed they lost customers.
Hassan v. City of New York was the first lawsuit to challenge the NYPD surveillance program. It was initially filed by Muslim Advocates and later joined by Center for Constitutional Rights.
Salah says
If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.
mortimer says
They hide the conspiracy of jihad by playing the victim.
Salah, do you know this phrase: ‘Tamaskan, tatamakan’ (play the victim, you will win) ?
Salah says
Of course I do.
تمسكن تتمكن
That’s what Muhammad used to do during the Meccan verses period, later on, when he had the chance to do it, he slaughtered all his enemies. That was the Medina verses period, Muhammad’s true face.
helmut says
Islam! We should translate it always and stop speaking this filthy language. Its Surrender! So you like Surrenderalism? Not me! Muslim I suppose is “Make you surrender” So a muslim is a make-you-surrenderalist! down with Arabianism!
Lyma says
And that is the truth.
Manuel 2 Paleologus says
When the Muslim countries will give full rights to all the Christians, then they can have rights here. What they asked in NJ is just ‘b……t’. They do not need human rights-they need rights to develop a strong minority and one day to attack the stupid morons from the administration from within.
Wake America and deport all the Muslims.
Manuel 2
Champ ✿ says
muslims demand _______________________!
They are *always* demanding something, so fill-in the blank.
mariam rove says
and I live in NJ! Every other day there is a new demand form the so called religion of peace…..m
mariam rove says
targeting Muslims on the basis of religion……..
what else should they base this on? Who is murdering and blowing up innocent people who have nothing to do with anything. Militant Jews?!! Or perhaps militant Catholics!!! The so called religion of peace is responsible for nearly 23000 acts of terrorism year to date since 9-11. So yes every mosque should be under 24/7 surveillance. Otherwise the will kill with impunity. M
Angemon says
“So yes every mosque should be under 24/7 surveillance.”
I agree. What other choice is there? Muslims in the US keep getting radicalised and no one knows where. And the surveillance shouldn’t be handled by muslim officers since their loyalty lies with the ummah before anything else (remember, in the UK Choudary was tipped by a muslim working in the police force).
mariam rove says
Yes I do remember that. Excellent point! M
helmut says
Islam! We should translate it always and stop speaking this filthy language. Its Surrender! So you like Surrenderalism? Not me! Muslim I suppose is “Make you surrender” So a muslim is a make-you-surrenderalist! down with Arabianism!
Jerry says
“So yes every mosque should be under 24/7 surveillance”?
Better converted to a parking lot!
Walter Sieruk says
Thomas Jefferson has taught “To save permanent rights, temporary sacrifices were necessary.” To put his in a more updated and current way, it may be said that “To save permanent rights, temporary sacrifices ARE necessary.” Furthermore, Mr. Jefferson had also stated “Let the eye of vigilance never be closed.”
mortimer says
The fact that the mosques cannot remove terrorists from their midst demonstrates that WARFARE AGAINST THE DISBELIEVERS is a central, essential doctrine of Islam that CANNOT BE REMOVED under any circumstances, even under siege, because JIHAD is an eternal directive from Allah. Muslims are bounty hunters, capturing, robbing and enslaving dirty kafirs.
Islamisdeath says
Muslms do not demand equal rights. They demand complete control. Satans evil, addled minions marching forth to carry out the destruction of the entire world per satans command
Lyma says
Its a religion that wants only to dominate.
ER says
A sensible judge! How remarkable! It is nice to know that occasionally we win.
Charli Main says
The foxes screaming and demanding, that the farmer guarding the chicken coop, should be disposed off because he is stopping the foxes doing, what foxes do.
Andy says
They never stop demanding Until they totally control the society and you Will live as a slave worshiping allah.
Veracious_one says
IN Muslim countries Muslims have no problems with monitoring Christians and non-Muslims….
EYESOPEN says
Excellent point. And one that’s NEVER made by the useful idiots in the MSM.
Henry says
Hey a judge with common sense, now there’s a rare animal.
Sam says
Poor Muslims! They are discriminated all over the world!
joeb says
I recall as a child living in Kilburn in London that the police spent much time in and around irish immigrant areas (such as Kilburn) looking for IRA men.
Perhaps they should have looked in brixton, a black area, or southall, that was full of indian hindus?
Just an idea…
karlb anglin says
My gut feeling is that soon, a few Muslims will try to apply to flight
schools in the US, When denied, they will use the ACLU and file a
claim of discrimination. They will win, more Muslims apply to
flight schools and 9/11 happens again. I pray good sense prevails.
Bull Shi'ite says
They can put cameras in my church, listen to the priest’s sermons and take pics all they want: we won’t be whining like those twits!
There.
EYESOPEN says
You bet! In fact, I would welcome it. The message of Christ might reach more people that way.
Lyma says
Thats right. I wl want churches to be monitored so more people get to hear the message of God’s love.
Raffy says
Do not stop this surveillance despite of their opposition. It is a matter of life & death for us non-muslims. You cannot trust the mentality & character of Muslims who are deceivers & traitors! For me it is better to throwout all troublesome muslims back to their home countries. We absolutely don’t want them here.
Bill C. says
I URGE Muslims to continue this in America where we are not castrated as to 2nd amendment rights as the Brits are.
I also want to remind all Muslim apologists here (such as they are) of this:
History of the “Don’t Tread On Me” or Gadsden flag and symbol:
“She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. … she never wounds ’till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her.”
Commonly attributed to B. Franklin.
Take heed.
gravenimage says
New Jersey: Muslims appeal ruling that NYPD surveillance was legal
……………………….
What gall, given the huge number of Jihad plots targeting New York and New Jersey.
Glad there is one sane judge, at least—and let’s hope there is another, who will not overturn this commonsense ruling.