Many Americans let their fear of terrorism blind them, resulting in accusations against innocent Muslims who actually have no part in terrorist activities. “The Imam’s Curse” tells the story of a Muslim family in Miami who were arrested for allegedly sending money to the Taliban. The author, Evan Osnos, writing for the New Yorker magazine, maintains that this was a great miscarriage of justice, where the F.B.I. fabricated evidence and did not possess a strong case against the family. I agree that the imprisonment of Hafiz Khan and multiple family members was not just, and there was a lack of sufficient evidence to convict Mr. Khan. American fear of terrorism victimizes Muslims who migrate to the United states for a better life and end up being
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They became United States citizens, and while Hafiz Khan did not assimilate to the American way of life, his children became greatly Americanized while still devoutly practicing Islam. In the United States, Hafiz was heavily involved in what was happening back home in Pakistan, where the violence between the Pakistani Army and Taliban was causing horrific devastation. Hafiz had founded a school in Pakistan, the Madrassa Arabia Ahya-al-Aloom, and he frequently sent money back home for the school and loved ones who were suffering. The Muslim tradition of charity known as “zakat” was what inspired Mr. Khan to send so much money back to his family members in trouble. The thousands of dollars in charity he sent back to Pakistan became the reason the F.B.I. began to suspect him of partaking in terrorist …show more content…
based their case on was the year’s worth of finance monitoring and recording of phone calls they had performed on the Khans. While Irfan and Izhar were arrested based solely on the money they sent to Pakistan to family and friends, Hafiz had fallen victim to an informant paid by the F.B.I to wear a wire and record Hafiz. This informant, David Mahmood Siddiqui, was there to play the role of a Taliban sympathizer and convince Mr. Khan to say damning things he wouldn’t say to anyone else. The informant aimed to encourage Mr. Hafiz to voice his support of the Taliban, by expressing his own approval of their actions and asking if Hafiz agreed, to which Hafiz would not express agreement. The F.B.I.’s use of these paid informants has received criticism from lawyers, activists, and judges who assert that the F.B.I. uses informants to coerce people who are vulnerable because of mental illness or financial need. The victims fall into the trap of saying things they don’t mean to gain material substance or the approval of this person. Evan Osnos points out in his article that Hafiz was recorded telling family members that Siddiqui “talks nonsense” and should only be indulged because he planned to give money to Hafiz’s school, making it seem as if he would fall into the financial need category of the critics claims. Another example of the F.B.I.’s misuse of informants that is provided in this article is the 2011 terrorism case
They became United States citizens, and while Hafiz Khan did not assimilate to the American way of life, his children became greatly Americanized while still devoutly practicing Islam. In the United States, Hafiz was heavily involved in what was happening back home in Pakistan, where the violence between the Pakistani Army and Taliban was causing horrific devastation. Hafiz had founded a school in Pakistan, the Madrassa Arabia Ahya-al-Aloom, and he frequently sent money back home for the school and loved ones who were suffering. The Muslim tradition of charity known as “zakat” was what inspired Mr. Khan to send so much money back to his family members in trouble. The thousands of dollars in charity he sent back to Pakistan became the reason the F.B.I. began to suspect him of partaking in terrorist …show more content…
based their case on was the year’s worth of finance monitoring and recording of phone calls they had performed on the Khans. While Irfan and Izhar were arrested based solely on the money they sent to Pakistan to family and friends, Hafiz had fallen victim to an informant paid by the F.B.I to wear a wire and record Hafiz. This informant, David Mahmood Siddiqui, was there to play the role of a Taliban sympathizer and convince Mr. Khan to say damning things he wouldn’t say to anyone else. The informant aimed to encourage Mr. Hafiz to voice his support of the Taliban, by expressing his own approval of their actions and asking if Hafiz agreed, to which Hafiz would not express agreement. The F.B.I.’s use of these paid informants has received criticism from lawyers, activists, and judges who assert that the F.B.I. uses informants to coerce people who are vulnerable because of mental illness or financial need. The victims fall into the trap of saying things they don’t mean to gain material substance or the approval of this person. Evan Osnos points out in his article that Hafiz was recorded telling family members that Siddiqui “talks nonsense” and should only be indulged because he planned to give money to Hafiz’s school, making it seem as if he would fall into the financial need category of the critics claims. Another example of the F.B.I.’s misuse of informants that is provided in this article is the 2011 terrorism case