NEW JERSEY - Eight Muslims filed a federal law suit Wednesday against the New York Police Department (NYPD) for their excessive surveillance tactics conducted on local Muslims since the 2001 terrorist attacks. According to the Associated Press, this is the first case to directly question the department's surveillance programs.
The lawsuit pertains to the various surveillances made on Muslim neighborhoods including mosques, markets, and homes, not just in the state of New York, but New Jersey, Connecticut and some parts of Philadelphia. The case alleges that law-abiding citizens are being subjected to these vigilances purely based on their religion, nationality and race, therefore making it unconstitutional.
A civil rights organization of the name Muslim Activists is representing the case on behalf of the plaintiffs; the organization released a statement to AP regarding the case:
"The NYPD program is founded upon a false and constitutionally impermissible premise: that Muslim religious identity is a legitimate criterion for selection of law-enforcement surveillance targets," the lawsuit said.
Although, the surveillances can be viewed as a type of 'guilt by association' NYPD commissioner Raymond Kelly told AP that such tactics were necessary to prevent another 9/11. His words as reported by the AP suggested "New Yorkers could not rely solely on the federal government for protection, and the NYPD needed to enhance its efforts."
The NYPD surveillance programs specifically targeting Muslims has not been deemed illegal by any court, however the tactics have received great criticism from civil rights activists and even the Justice Department.
The NYPD claims that none of its surveillance tactics have violated any citizen's constitutional rights and the program was put in play for the overall safety of the state.
