Although some Muslim groups on campuses experienced prejudice after President Bush seized the assets of a group he says is connected to terrorist activities, MSU’s Muslim Students’ Association has not been targeted.
In November, Bush confiscated assets of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, one of the largest Islamic charities in America. Allegations arose that the group provided funding for Hamas, a Palestinian extremist group linked to suicide bombings in Israel.
The Department of the Treasury on Dec. 4 listed the Holy Land Foundation as one of three possible terrorist organizations. The other two groups, Global Relief Foundation and the Benevolence International Foundation, were added to the list Dec. 14.
Al-Talib, the Muslim newsmagazine at UCLA, ran advertisements for three of the organizations in November, prior to Bush’s decision.
In response to the backlash against Muslim campus groups, Salman Ateequi, vice president of MSU’s Muslim Students’ Association, said his organization has not been questioned. Ateequi said running ads, such as those in Al-Talib at UCLA, displays no link to terrorist activities.
“They haven’t shown proof that they are connected to terrorism,” the finance sophomore said. “This is a trend that has been set, and it doesn’t need to be shown. I think it’s wrong.”
Ateequi said focusing on student groups like the student association at UCLA is not a viable way to find those involved in terrorist activity.
“That has solely no relevance to what they are looking for,” he said. “If one or two people have a link or something, that doesn’t mean the organization in any way condones that (terrorism). Our organization has its goal like every company has its goal.
“Our only goal, interest and purpose is education about Islam.”
Richard Licht, Lansing FBI resident supervisor, said there has to be a reason for seizing the assets of an organization.
“You have to have some type of judicial process and a seizure warrant,” he said. “You can’t just get up one day and come to work and say, ‘Let’s go seize the assets of this group.’ You have to have probable cause. There has to be some reason for it. What the basis is, I have no idea.”
Hussein Ibish, communications director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in Washington, D.C., said his group is against Bush’s decision to seize the assets of the Holy Land Foundation.
“If the government has evidence that the Holy Land organization or any other has violated the law, sooner or later, they will turn up in court,” he said. “I think these are American citizens and they are entitled to their day in court.”
Ibish said the treatment of Arab Americans since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has led people to discriminate against Muslims.
“There is a mood of fear and suspicion out there against Arabs and Muslims, and there are unscrupulous people who want to take advantage of that,” he said. “There are groups that might try to sneer Muslim organizations and groups. I think that should be condemned.
“If what we are seeing is guilt by religion, race or ethnicity, there shouldn’t be any tolerance for that. We shouldn’t be bullied into allowing that kind of thing.”
