IP: Muslims in U.S. Considering Lawsuits

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-attacks-backlash0929sep29.story?coll=sns%2Dap%2Dnationworld%2Dheadlines

September 29, 2001, 12:52 PM EDT

Ibrahim Hooper ticks off a list: beatings, shootings, arson, firebombing, 
threats.

They are among the 625 anti-Muslim incidents reported to his national 
group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, since the Sept. 11 
terrorist onslaught.

Only in recent days have reports of backlash violence slowed, many advocacy 
groups say. Now, some are slowly turning their attention to legal action, 
sifting through complaints and referring victims to attorneys.

A defamation lawsuit filed last week by Muslim gas station owners in 
Illinois may be the first of a string of civil rights, discrimination and 
defamation suits, advocates and legal experts said.

"Legal action really is going to act as a deterrent," said Harpreet Singh, 
spokesman for United Sikhs in Service of America. "That's the best way to 
seek justice, and at the same time tell others they can't do this, they'll 
be accountable."

Civil rights and minority advocates are still closely monitoring reports of 
hate crimes, but many say complaints have passed their peak.

<snip>



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