Muslim group sues US government over alleged discrimination
By DL News
Published
1 min read
The lawsuit focuses on Mustafa Zeidan, who was added to the U.S. government's "no-fly list," and Osama Abu Irshaid, whose electronic device was confiscated while federal agents interrogated him about his opposition to Israel's military acti...
A Muslim advocacy organization has initiated legal action against the FBI and other U.S. government officials, accusing them of discriminatory practices and racial bias by placing two Palestinian Americans on a watch list.
The lawsuit focuses on Mustafa Zeidan, who was added to the U.S. government's "no-fly list," and Osama Abu Irshaid, whose electronic device was confiscated while federal agents interrogated him about his opposition to Israel's military actions in Gaza.
This information was provided by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Osama Abu Irshaid, the executive director of American Muslims for Palestine, traveled to Qatar from the U.S. in late May, returning in early June.
The lawsuit alleges that upon his return, he was subjected to additional screening and questioning, and his phone was seized by federal agents. The device has yet to be returned.
CAIR is challenging the treatment of these Palestinian American activists on the grounds of constitutional rights.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, asserts that neither Abu Irshaid nor Zeidan has ever been charged with or convicted of a violent crime.
The lawsuit also names leaders from several government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department. These agencies have not yet responded to requests for comment.
