A coalition of 125 civil rights, religious and community groups has written to the Department of Justice, calling for a federal investigation into the blanket surveillance of mosques and other Muslim outlets by the New York Police Department (NYPD).
The coalition, which includes the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), is calling on the attorney general, Eric Holder, to use his powers to launch a federal civil rights investigation into NYPD practices. Once any investigation is completed, the Department of Justice could, if it chose, take civil legal action to put a stop to the controversial surveillance dragnet.
“For over a decade, the NYPD has engaged in unlawful religious profiling and suspicionless surveillance of Muslims in New York City,” the letter says. “The NYPD’s biased policing practices hurt not only Muslims, but all communities who rightfully expect that law enforcement will serve and protect America’s diverse population equally, without discrimination.”
Europe’s far-right parties are set to contest next year’s European elections on a common manifesto, according to French National Front leader Marine Le Pen.
A Muslim nurse has spoken out after a religiously-motivated attack in the grounds of the Freeman Hospital. The incident happened in May 2013, just two days after the murder of drummer Lee Rigby, but Khadija Mohamed, 22, has now chosen to speak out.
A new parents’ group set up to support Derby’s failing Muslim free school is to petition the Government for time to turn the school around.