CAIR: San Diego Muslim Placed on No-Fly List, Stuck in Costa Rica

Civil rights group to hold news conference seeking man's return to U.S.

SAN DIEGO, June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Thursday, June 7, the San Diego chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-San Diego) will hold a news conference to call for the return to the United States of a local Muslim who is stuck in Costa Rica after being placed on the no-fly list.

WHAT: News Conference for San Diego Muslim Stuck in Cost Rica After Being Placed on No-Fly List

WHEN: Thursday, June 7, 11 a.m. (Pacific)

WHERE: Office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Diego Chapter, 8316 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Suite 203, San Diego, CA 92111

CONTACT: CAIR-San Diego Executive Director Hanif Mohebi, 858-774-9991, E-mail: [email protected]; CAIR Staff Attorney Gadeir Abbas, 202-742-6410, 720-251-0425, E-Mail: [email protected]

The 27-year-old American-born Muslim has been studying in Costa Rica and was denied the right to board a June 5 flight to return to the United States after graduation. He was interviewed by the FBI about his political and religious affiliations and past travel, but was not given clear reasons for being placed on the no-fly list.

(NOTE: The man will attempt to board another flight to the United States on Thursday morning.)

Earlier this year, CAIR called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate acts of "coercion and intimidation" allegedly used by the FBI to pressure Muslim citizens into giving up their constitutional rights if they wished to return to the United States from overseas.

CAIR Seeks Probe of Whether FBI Sought Torture of U.S. Muslim
http://tinyurl.com/793u9wk
CAIR Asks DOJ to Probe Oregon FBI's 'Coercion' of Muslim Citizens
http://tinyurl.com/7ool6pf
Video: CAIR Says Portland FBI is Coercing Muslims to Give Up Rights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Chk5i3X_2U  

Last year, CAIR filed a lawsuit against the DOJ and the FBI seeking a court order to allow a Virginia Muslim teenager who had been detained in Kuwait and placed on a U.S. government no-fly list to return to the United States.

CAIR: Va. Muslim on No-Fly List Returning to U.S.
http://tinyurl.com/6egwl7e
CAIR Complaint for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief
http://www.cair.com/Portals/0/pdf/noflysuit.pdf  

CAIR has assisted a number of other American Muslim citizens who have been stranded overseas by government actions.

CAIR: Embassy Returns Passport to U.S. Muslim Stuck in Kuwait
http://tinyurl.com/3n7djcu
CAIR Video: FBI Prevents Va. Muslim from Returning to U.S.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x55MeqP3UYo

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations