Bill Rams, Orange County Register, 9/26/02

http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=4375&section=LOCAL

 

SANTA ANA, Calif. -  Why do members of the community refuse to be

interviewed? What's the structure of the leadership? What is being done to

educate people about the American judicial system?

 

Those were among the questions FBI agents asked two Muslim community

leaders Wednesday during a diversity training seminar, the first of its

kind for FBI agents since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, officials said.

"I thought it was very positive," said Salem Mayorati, director of the

Muslim Public Affairs Council. "This is about fighting terrorism without

forfeiting constitutional rights and civil liberties. We want to understand

each other."

 

More than 100 agents from Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles

counties attended the private meeting.

 

Mayorati said a handful of community members had complained of agents

harassing them. He _ and Ri'ad Faraj, spokesman for the Council on

American-Islamic Relations _ wanted to address the issue with the agents.

They also wanted to let them know that their organizations are interested

in helping them as they seek local links to terrorist organizations.

 

Stephen Steinhauser, an FBI assistant special agent in charge, said it was

also a good opportunity for community leaders to hear from agents about how

they feel they've been treated.

 

"There were some people we would go to speak to and they were very

apprehensive," he said. "We need assistance and cooperation from the Muslim

and Arab community. Help us. That's the key here."

 

Faraj said he will do everything he can.

 

"We want the community to cooperate with the FBI," he said afterward.

"There was some mistrust or suspicion. This was definitely a step in the

right direction, and we appreciate the FBI's stand."