Members of the NYPD spied on Muslim residents in the New York and New Jersey, but the inquiries have come to a partial end. Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa held a private meeting in Newark, N.J. Wednesday (Sept. 4) informing attendees that the surveillance—which the department claimed it started to thwart potential terrorist attacks—is no more.
Chiesa will not confirm who was in attendance, but a photographer for the Associated Press captured Mohamed Younes of the American Muslim Union, and an imam from the Muslim Center of Passaic County, leaving the building where the meeting was held. The meeting was the first of a Muslim outreach committee which Chiesa established, in May.
The purpose of the collective is to take a closer look at the NYPD’s activities to see if they were unlawful.
The police department has defended their actions, which have already proven to be a waste of time, money and resources, as they have found no evidence of terrorist activity. “For some, the very act of intelligence gathering seems illegitimate when applied to the crime of terrorism,” explained NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, of the motivation behind the department’s efforts.
Opposition to the spying has been swift with people of different religions and racial backgrounds holding protests, and accusing the unit of discriminating against, and profiling, Muslims.
A federal lawsuit has also been filed against the NYPD.
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Photo: AP
