[2098] in peace2
Important warning from ACLU, ADC, and more
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Aimee L Smith)
Tue Dec 3 11:53:45 2002
Message-Id: <200212031653.LAA12999@gold.mit.edu>
To: peace-announce@MIT.EDU, paw-ac@MIT.EDU
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Date: Tue, 03 Dec 2002 11:53:25 -0500
From: Aimee L Smith <alsmith@MIT.EDU>
PLEASE DISSEMINATE THIS EMAIL AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE
According to recent press accounts, the FBI is now targeting
thousands of Iraqi immigrants, Iraqi-American U.S. citizens, and others of
Middle Eastern descent for voluntary questioning. We would like to work
together to ensure that individuals targeted for questioning know their
rights. To that end, we request you to distribute the attached bulletin
to individuals who may be targeted for questioning. We hope to have an
Arabic language version of the bulletin shortly, and will send you that
version as soon as it becomes available.
Please disseminate this email and the attached bulletin as widely as
possible. More general know-your-rights pamphlets in English and Arabic
are available at: www.aclunc.org/911/rights.html or
www.nlg.org/post911/legal/KYR/rightsinfo.htm .
By working together on this important effort, we hope to make sure
that individuals who are questioned can exercise their legal rights.
Very truly yours,
Jayashri Srikantiah
American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California
Heba Nimr
American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
Helal Olmeira
Council on American-Islamic Relations
Riva Enteen
National Lawyers Guild
Robert Rubin
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights
BULLETIN
What to do if the FBI, INS, or Police Contact You for Questioning
November 27, 2002
The FBI has begun a new round of questioning and interviews. The FBI will
likely target Iraqi immigrants, Iraqi-Americans and others of Middle
Eastern origin for the questioning. This bulletin informs you how to
respond when the FBI, INS, or police contact you for questioning.
* If an FBI, INS, or police officer asks to speak to you, tell him you
want to consult an attorney before deciding what to do. Telling the
officer that you need to speak to an attorney before answering any
questions is legal and appropriate. If you want to talk to the FBI, INS,
or police, your attorney can contact them for the interview on your
behalf.
* ANY information you give to an officer without an attorney, even if
it seems harmless, can be used against you or someone else. Lying to an
officer is a separate crime. Remaining silent is not a crime.
* You are not required to allow the officer into your home or office
without a warrant. Ask to see the warrant. If the officer refuses to
show you a warrant, do not obstruct him if he forces his way into your
home or office. Tell the officer that he does not have your permission to
enter.
* If the officer says that he has a warrant for your arrest, you have
a right to see the warrant. You must go with the officer, but you do not
have to answer questions until you consult an attorney.
* If you are detained, you should ask for an attorney and remain
silent. If you are detained in an immigration detention center, ask for
contact information for attorneys.
If the FBI, INS, local police or other law enforcement contact you, please
write down the name, agency, and telephone number of the officer who calls
or visits you. Then CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY. We have a FREE hotline that
provides confidential legal assistance. The number is: 415 285 1055
Co-sponsors:
American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California
Council on American Islamic Relations
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights
National Lawyers' Guild
