MRFF Submits Statement to Hearing on Homegrown Terrorism Threat to Military Communities In the U.S.

MRFF Details Plight of Service Member Clients of the Muslim Faith, Victims of Islamophobia to Joint Hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: “Homegrown Terrorism: The threat to military communities inside the United States.”

Here is the text of that statement:

Written Statement for the Record

by Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein, Founder and President
Military Religious Freedom Foundation

for “Homegrown Terrorism: The Threat to Military Communities Inside the United States”
A Joint Hearing held by the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs December 7, 2011

On behalf of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), a nonprofit organization with
the sole mission of protecting the constitutionally guaranteed civil rights of United States armed
forces personnel and veterans, I am grateful for the opportunity to submit this statement for the
record of the joint hearing on “Homegrown Terrorism: The Threat to Military Communities
Inside the United States.”

MRFF’s exclusive focus is protecting its clients’ religious freedom. We currently represent the
interests of approximately 26,000 United States marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen, cadets, and
midshipmen at West Point, the Air Force Academy, Annapolis and other service academies,
coast guard personnel, reservists, national guard personnel, and veterans. This number grows by
thousands each year. Approximately 96% of our clients are self-professed Christians (about 3/4
are Protestants of numerous denominations and the remaining 1/4 are mostly Roman Catholic).
The remaining 4% of our clients are from many other faith traditions including, Buddhists,
Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, and Native American spiritualists, as well as agnostics and
atheists. It is the stories of our more than 450 Muslim American clients (who are nearly 10% of
all such men and women in the armed services) that are particularly heartbreaking and what I
would like to focus on today.

MRFF recognizes that military life requires individual adherence to shared patriotic principles.
But this adherence cannot mean that a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine has a right to question
another’s beliefs nor that one’s constitutionally guaranteed religious freedom must be
compromised (except in the most limited military circumstances). Yet, our Muslim American
clients tell us every day that their constitutional guarantees of religious freedom are under direct
assault.

The ways in which the religious freedom of Muslim American members of the armed services is
harmed can best be described as systemic and pernicious throughout the armed forces. For
example, military offers and enlisted personnel alike frequently use derogatory and racist terms
such as “towel head,” “raghead,” “camel jockey” or the most universally used term of “Haji” to
describe their Muslim American colleagues in uniform as well as all Muslims everywhere. One
of my clients calls what he’s experienced “unjust discrimination and unbelievable mistrust.”

I. Where does this pervasive anti-Muslim prejudice come from?

Perhaps from lectures, training exercises, and military leaders themselves perpetuating the
harmful stereotypes that Muslims and Arabs are somehow different from their fellow Americans,
and thus suspicious, and that all Muslims seek to harm other Americans.

For example, in June 2007, Brigitte Gabriel, who the New York Times called a “radical
Islamophobe,” delivered a lecture at the Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC). Her lecture was part
of the JFSC’s elective course on Islam, open to American military and national security
personnel.

During the question and answer period of her lecture, she said Muslims seeking political office
should be resisted:

If a Muslim who has—who is—a practicing Muslim who believes the word of the
Koran to be the word of Allah, who abides by Islam, who goes to mosque and
prays every Friday, who prays five times a day—this practicing Muslim, who
believes in the teachings of the Koran, cannot be a loyal citizen to the United
States of America.

Then she asserted that a Muslim’s oath of office is meaningless:
A Muslim is allowed to lie under any situation to make Islam, or for the benefit of
Islam in the long run. A Muslim sworn to office can lay his hand on the Koran
and say ‘I swear that I’m telling the truth and nothing but the truth,’ fully knowing
that he is lying because the same Koran that he is swearing on justifies his lying in
order to advance the cause of Islam. What is worrisome about that is when we are
faced with war and a Muslim political official in office has to make a decision
either in the interest of the United States, which is considered infidel according to
the teachings of Islam, and our Constitution is uncompatible [sic] with Islam—not
compatible—that Muslim in office will always have his loyalty to Islam.

She made further comments on the Islamic community in the U.S. and racial profiling:
We need to see more patriotism and less terrorism, and especially on the part of
the Islamic community in this country, who are good at nothing but complaining
about every single thing instead of standing up and working with us in fighting
the enemy in our country.

Another example of these harmful stereotypes: In formal military training exercises, Muslim
American service members are very often reminded that “the enemy” in the War on Terror is
Islam as an entire religion, and, accordingly, that any of its adherents and followers are seriously
suspect. Non-commissioned officers have ordered Muslim American service members to dress
up in Arab garb to play the role “terrorist” in training exercises.

Further, an Army general, while in uniform, went on speaking tours of churches, declaring that
the War on Terrorism was a battle between Satan and Christians, explaining, “We in the Army of
God, in the House of God, the Kingdom of God have been raised for such a time as this.” And,
at a West Point graduation ceremony, a top Army official said ominously, “Your sons and
daughters are fighting to protect our citizens . . . from zealots who would restrain, molest,
burden, and cause to suffer those who do not share their religious beliefs, deny us, whom they
call infidels, our unalienable rights.”

II. What are the harms to our military communities?

This anti-Muslim prejudice has significant consequences and leads to discrimination—and real
harm to the Muslim American members of our military communities.

Muslim American service members have been denied leave time. They have been subjected to
hurdles in accessing the military’s health care system. They have been denied rank and choice
assignments. They have been unlawfully detained and falsely accused of crimes and offenses of
moral turpitude. They have been the victims of scurrilous devastating rumors and innuendo.
They have been unjustly ordered to perform objectionable military tasks and chores.

And this systemic discrimination doesn’t just affect Muslim American service members. Their
families suffer as well. They and their families have been derided as exemplifying “the enemy
amongst us.” They and their families have been assaulted and abused both stateside and abroad.
They and their families have endured hurtful and humiliating taunts and threats. They and their
families have been accused of not being “real Americans” and told that they are not remotely
welcome in America. They and their families have been told to “go back to your Arab lands.”

I asked one of MRFF’s Muslim American clients—a graduate of one of our U.S. military
academies who has served multiple combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan, is highly
decorated, and has received the Purple Heart and the Silver and Bronze Stars for exemplary
courage in battle—to describe what he has endured.

He tells of being indoctrinated, from his first days at the military academy to his current position
as an officer, with the belief America’s military is a Christian military and that its greatest enemy
is Islam and its followers. He tells of his repeated attempts to protect and speak for his
subordinate Muslim American military members and describes with tears how these many
attempts are futile and essentially trivialized by the responsible military chain of command. He
tells of the officially endorsed Islamophobia rampant throughout the U.S. military and of Muslim
Americans service members being baited with lies attacks on their character. He tells of the
l oneliness and estrangement of being told in innumerable ways that he is not a reliable or
dependable part of either his own combat unit or of the United States military because of he is
Muslim. He tells of countless instances of being both proselytized by military chaplains and his
own direct military chain of command.

He tells of memorizing (and advising many other fellow Muslim American military members
and their families to as well) the names of Muslim Americans who have been killed or wounded
in combat so that he can repeatedly tell those who doubt Muslim service members’ commitment
of their honorable sacrifice. But he also tells of callous and ambivalent responses when he
shares the names of the service members and their sacrifices.

Military life is very different from civilian life. Unless one has served in the military it is almost
impossible to appropriately convey the formidable magnitude of the imperative to be viewed as a
trusted and respected member of the military team. Muslim American military members have
been told repeatedly that they have no place in America’s military because of their faith. They
have been told that, as Muslims, they cannot and will not be allowed into the otherwise
impenetrable brotherhood and sisterhood of trust and loyalty of their respective military
organizations.

Most heartbreaking, though, is what this decorated service member’s family has suffered. He
tells of his children being harassed on base elementary schools—even proselytized to “save their
souls from the evils of Islam and Allah.” He tells of his wife being spat upon while shopping at
the base commissary and whispered about and given looks of revulsion when she shops in the
Post Exchange store and gets gas at the base gas station. He tells of his family having to endure
disrespect and dismissiveness every day for merely being Muslims.

Finally, I want to share the story of two of my clients, who have suffered tremendously because
of the widespread mistrust of American Muslim service members by those with whom they
serve.

Yassine Bahammou and Khalid Lyaacoubi moved to the United States from Morocco in search
of freedom and opportunity. In 2009, hoping to serve their new country, they enlisted in the
Army program for U.S. citizens and green-card holders who are native Arabic speakers. They
would serve as linguistic and cultural experts for frontline commanders. Thus, it was a
dangerous assignment. Errol Smith, the Army’s assistant deputy for foreign language programs,
said about soldiers in the program, “The most important thing . . . is their ability to save lives,
whether it’s their fellow soldiers, their commanders, or civilians. They bring an essential skill.”
The Army offered incentives such as higher rank and bonuses for those who enlisted in this
program. But their ultimate motivation to serve in the Army was the same as so many others
who enlist. “The United States is known for fighting for other people’s freedoms,” explained
Bahammou. “I like it and I wanted to help do that.” Another reason, particular to these men:
“We wanted to prove to Arabic nations,” Lyaacoubi explained, “that we were Arabic and that we
lived with Americans and socialized with Americans and that we know that they are good.”
Their first step was basic training at Fort Jackson, which they successfully completed. Next they
began a specialized translator’s course at the Advanced Individual Training School also at Fort
Jackson. At first, the training went well. Then their lives turned upside down.

Across the country at Fort Hood, tragedy struck: Maj. Nidal Malik Hassan massacred thirteen
people. After this tragedy, over at Fort Jackson, Bahammou and Lyaacoubi began to experience
harassment at the hands of their fellow soldiers. They were called names like “terrorists” and
“hajis.” They were referred to as “garbage.” Their bunkrooms were ransacked.
And within weeks, the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) arrested Bahammou,
Lyaacoubi, and three of their colleagues. These five soldiers who were being trained as
translators to serve on the frontline were charged with somehow conspiring to poison the food
supply at the facility.

For the next 45 agonizing days, these men were held in their barracks under twenty-four hour
guard—even at the mess hall and latrine. They were prohibited from speaking Arabic either to
each other or to friends or family members who called to try to find out what was happening to
them, some of whom spoke no English. And the threats and insults continued—this time from
the guards and investigators. Their guards said they were going to be shipped off to
Guantanamo; an investigator threated to send one of them back to Morocco “in a box.” And then
someone from CID confirmed their fears. They were being treated like terrorists because of their
religion. Lyaacoubi distinctly remembers an investigator said, “The United States is in a war
against Islam and you are a Muslim.”

After 45 days, they were suddenly released. CID had no evidence against them and no charges
were filed. But their laptops, cellphones, and passports were confiscated. Their absolutely
unjust detention ended, but their anguish would continue.

As part of the deal offered by the Army, they were returned to their homes in the Washington,
DC area, where they joined the National Guard. But Bahammou and Lyaacoubi were kept
segregated and not allowed to train with their company.

The Army conducted an internal review and concluded that the allegations against them—which
were initially made by a relative of a soldier—were unfounded, but, not surprisingly, concluded
there was no racism or harassment in its handling of the Muslim soldiers. Although the CID
might have been “overly restrictive” in the soldiers’ detention, the review determined that the
Army had acted in accordance with the tense situation following the Fort Hood shootings. And
yet, CID turned the case over to the FBI, perpetuating the appearance that the men were, in fact,
guilty of something, even if it was only their Muslim faith.

The FBI seems to have kept its investigation of Bahammou and Lyaacoubi open—which is
causing far-reaching harm. Bahammou, who always wanted to work in law enforcement, applied
for a job as a security guard, but was denied a concealed weapon permit because he was the
target of an investigation and the background check said he was “dangerous” and had conspired
to harm fellow soldiers.

The program in which they enlisted promised a fast-track to citizenship. (It should also be noted
that anyone who has even one day of honorable active duty service since 9/11—which
Bahammou and Lyaacoubi had—can apply for citizenship.) But their promised accelerated path
to U.S. citizenship has been blocked. The Army has given them all the documents clearing their
names. One’s immigration officer tells him that his file is fine. But an Army immigration
specialist tells him that there is an FBI hold on his case. And he has a copy of an email from
someone in the Army asking his immigration officer to put a military hold on his file. He goes to
interviews, provides documentation over and over again, and deadlines for making decisions
pass. He even volunteered to take a polygraph test to clear his name, but an FBI agent told him it
wasn’t necessary because the FBI doesn’t have anything on him. The other is in an endless loop
of being told his background check needs to be completed; he needs to resubmits paperwork;
he’s cleared; and then that he needs another background check. He’s actually taken two
polygraphs. Yet his case remains open. For him, not getting the citizenship that he’s entitled to
is devastating. He has a good job with a government contractor. His company wants to keep
him on, but they may have to let him go because he does not yet have citizenship. He has a
family to take care of and cannot afford to lose his job. He’s told me, “It’s stressful. I’m worn
every day. I try everything and I’m just still waiting.” He continued, “They falsely accused me,
but no one will take the responsibility to restore my rights.”

Alarmingly, Bahammou has even been searched by local police after being stopped for routine
traffic violations. He was stopped and he can’t remember committing a violation. Saying
Bahammou might have a warrant outstanding (which he didn’t), the officer called in
reinforcements. Several other police cars arrived. Then saying they smelled marijuana (which
Bahammou doesn’t use), the police handcuffed him and made him stand on the side of the road
for half an hour while they turned his car inside out, searching for things unknown. They found
nothing and eventually he was given a ticket for making an illegal turn—at a place where there’s
no turn to make.

When traveling to visit their families in Morocco, each man has encountered difficulties. While
transferring planes in Paris on their return, each man was stopped by a U.S. government agent.
They were asked about where they’d been, why they’d traveled, and the addresses where they’d
stayed in Morocco. The agent who questioned one of the men had his picture and walked
directly up to him to begin the questioning. The agent said he was stationed in Miami but the
government had flown him to Paris just to question him. Each man was also stopped upon
landing in the U.S. They were questioned—one for three hours—about why they travelled, who
they stayed with, the addresses where they’d stayed, and how they got the money to pay for their
trips to Morocco. They were searched—agents copied everything in one’s wallet and the
memory card for his phone. One had his luggage returned a day after he landed, after someone
had rifled through it. At various points, agents expressed embarrassment and apologized for
having to subject these men, with military identification, to such scrutiny. But because these
men are trapped in the system based on false accusations, these agents must do their jobs.
Bahammou recently said to me, “I know that this will affect me my whole life and it’s hurting
me in my heart. And it’s hurting me even more because I didn’t do anything. My dream is to be
in the military and law enforcement.” It seems very unlikely he’ll be able to fulfill his dream.
He explained, “I joined the Army to fight for other people’s freedom and I ended up losing
mine.”

Lyaacoubi lived in the U.S. for five years before joining the Army. “I thought joining the Army
would change my life for the good, but it changed my life for the worse.” He said, “Wherever
we go, we’re the bad guys, no matter how much good we do.” Yet, he wants to continue to serve
his country and he’s going reenlist in the reserves. He said, “I’m willing to overlook those who
are prejudiced against me; I know I’m a good person.”
***

Days after the Fort Hood shootings, General George Casey, chief of staff of the Army said, “I’m
concerned that this increased speculation could cause a backlash against some of our Muslim
soldiers. And I’ve asked our Army leaders to be on the lookout for that. It would be a shame—
as great a tragedy as this was, it would be a shame if our diversity became a casualty as well.”
His fears were realized. There’s been a terrible backlash against Muslim Americans. They have
been targeted for suspicion and discrimination because of their beliefs and not because of
anything they’ve done.

I’ve shared with you just a few examples of the grave and harmful effects of the ingrained
prejudice, racism, and distrust experienced by Muslim Americans in the military—that is only
reinforced by this series of hearings. I believe it is critical to focus on why the racism and
distrust is so pervasive in the military. This deep-seeded prejudice is taught and disseminated.
And it is pernicious. It has real world consequences and causes real harms—the ongoing
discrimination against not just service members but their families. This is a real threat to our
military communities. Not only is it unjust and un-American, but it undermines the cohesion of
our military and the ability to retain Muslim American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who
are committed to fighting to protect everyone’s—theirs and ours—freedom.

SEE ALSO:

A Dangerous New McCarthy?, Azeem Ibrahim http://the-diplomat.com/2011/12/07/a-dangerous-new-mccarthy/

Congress: Stop Targeting American Muslims and Protect Muslim Service Members, ACLU http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security-religion-belief/congress-stop-targeting-american-muslims-and-protect-muslim

Peter King’s Muslim Hysteria, Wilfredo Amr Ruiz.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wilfredo-amr-ruiz/peter-kings-muslim-hyster_b_1112534.html?ref=religion

Peter King’s “Homegrown Terrorism” hearing risks repeating history, Mike Honda http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/civil-rights/197761-peter-kings-homegrown-terrorism-hearing-risks-repeating-history

MRFF Denounces Representative Rick Womick’s Call to Ban Muslims from U.S. Military http://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/2011/11/mrff-denounces-representative-rick-womicks-call-to-ban-muslims-from-u-s-military/

Pearl Harbor and false accusations of homegrown terrorism, Floyd Mori http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/civil-rights/197729-pearl-harbor-and-false-accusations-of-homegrown-terrorism

Bennie Thompson says hearing draws distorted picture of threat http://www.gsnmagazine.com/node/25177?c=access_control_identification