Source: The New York Times

On March 27, 2002, The New York Times reported, "Raids, Detentions and Lists Lead Muslims to Cry Persecution." The article noted, "Several hundred Muslims held an open meeting on Monday night in Sterling, Va., near Washington, to listen to complaints of people whose homes or businesses were among those raided. Many said they intended to press for Congressional hearings into police tactics and to organize rallies to call attention to abuses against Muslims since Sept. 11." The article continued, "'As Muslims we condemned the terrorist acts of Sept. 11,' said Akmal M. Muhammad, an imam who spoke at the meeting. 'But we must also insist that the Bush administration stop practicing terrorism in reverse against us.'" The article noted that, "The efforts to single out foreigners is reminiscent of the way the government treated Japanese-Americans during World War II, when they were put in internment camps because of fears they might sabotage American facilities or spy for Tokyo, said Mara Verheyden-Hilliard of the Partnership for Civil Justice, a liberal legal group that has joined a coalition of groups protesting treatment of Muslims."