U.S. Government Officials Speak with American Arab, Muslim, Sikh and South Asian Leaders About UK Terrorist Attacks

July 2, 2007

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Islamic Society of North America

http://www.isna.net/index.php?id=35&backPID=1&tt_news=878

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Sunday, July 1, leaders of the American Arab, Muslim, Sikh and South Asian communities participated in a nationwide conference call with the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, State, Treasury and Health and Human Services to share information and respond to concerns following the incidents in London and Glasgow in the previous 48 hours.

Daniel Sutherland, the Department of Homeland Security’s Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, convened a call of the DHS Incident Management Team with the American Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian communities. Briefings were provided by an operations official of the Transportation Security Administration and by Dr. Akbar Ahmed of American University, who is in the UK meeting with members of Parliament and leaders of the British Muslim community.

During the conference call, government officials pledged to continue their work to protect all communities and uphold civil rights and civil liberties. Federal officials pledged to continue to be active in prosecuting hate crimes, acts of employment discrimination, and upholding the free exercise of religion by all communities.