American Muslims Report Being Questioned by FBI Ahead of Election Day
American Muslims were questioned by federal authorities in several states ahead of Election Day, a civil rights organization reports, as authorities reportedly received warnings of a potential terrorist attack. The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a community alert on Sunday, urging those who have been questioned to be aware of the constitutional rights. "CAIR is urging anyone contacted by a law enforcement agency to consult advice offered in its Know Your Rights and Responsibilities an American Muslim' pocket guide, which includes a section called Know Your Rights If Law Enforcement Contacts You,'" the advocacy organization wrote on its Facebook page. In Oklahoma, Adam Soltani wrote on Facebook that he'd received four reports of the FBI "harassing" Muslims in the state on Saturday. "Please folks, if you missed my alert earlier, please spread the word," Soltani wrote. "You DO NOT have to talk to the FBI without an attorney present. CAIR Oklahoma will represent you free of charge.", The post came on the heels of several reports that Muslims had been questioned by the FBI in states including Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, California, Washington and Michigan, according to the Washington Post. The Dallas Morning News reports officials received warning that al-Qaeda may target Texas ahead of Election Day. The North Texas branch of CAIR told the Morning News that at least three interviews with Muslim Americans took place over the weekend and there were reports that five additional interviews had also occurred. CBS News reported Friday that New York, Texas and Virginia are all potential targets of an attack on Monday and U.S. authorities were taking the threat seriously.