MichiganRadio

AG: Discrimination Against Arabs, Muslims 'Intolerable' DETROIT (Michigan Radio) - U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says he's committed to protecting the civil rights of all Americans - including Muslim and Arab Americans.

Holder spoke to a group called Advocates and Leaders for Police and Community Trust. ALPACT is a coalition of minority advocates and law enforcement officials that works on issues like racial and ethnic profiling. He says he knows that trust between the Muslim community and law enforcement has been tested.

"Over the last nine months I've heard from Muslims and Arab Americans who feel uneasy about their relationship with our government, who feel isolated and discriminated against by law enforcement," Holder said. "This is simply intolerable."

About two dozen people protested outside Holder's speech. Among them were the sons of Detroit Imam Luqman Abdullah, who was killed by FBI agents during a raid last month.

"All Muslims is not up to something," said Omar Regan. "Investigate this situation right now, what just happened with my father. Find out what really went down. Something is wrong here!"

Abdullah and several members of his mosque are accused of illegal gun sales, theft and other crimes. The charging documents also talk about their involvement in a radical Muslim group with a violent, anti-government ideology. Regan says those claims are bogus.

Contact Sarah Hulett at sarahhu@umich.edu © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio