Earlier this month, The Washington Times reported statements made by FBI Director Robert S. Mueller during a conference of intelligence experts about the FBI’s handling of U.S. Muslim groups involved in subversion or “stealth jihad.” Director Mueller was quoted as saying, “It is a delicate issue and it is dependent upon individuals, they are quite obviously, not just Muslim, not just Arab-American, the Sikh-American communities but individuals that may be under investigation, that may have participated in supporting terrorism and we have to be sure we identify, understand those persons and to the extent they step over the line, they are indicted and prosecuted.”
In singling out the Sikh American community, Director Mueller raises several concerns, most suprisingly that many Sikh Americans may be under investigation by the FBI. Further, Director Mueller’s remarks reflect a fundamental error: linking the Sikh faith, or any faith for that matter, to terrorism. Describing criminals by their religion or culture is necessarily problematic because it implicates an entire religious and cultural community. This philosophy is extremely important to adhere to at the highest levels of government, where criminalizing a people has serious implications for minority communities. “In the wake of 9/11, Sikhs have faced a disproportionate number of challenges, including hate crimes, racial profiling, school bulling, and employment discrimination,” said Jasjit Singh, SALDEF’s Associate Executive Director. “These challenges are exacerbated when references to ‘Sikh terrorism’ are made, especially by a high-ranking government official. We strongly feel that commentary of this sort falls short of the high standard that all public officials should be held to.” SALDEF has issued a letter of concern to the Director’s office seeking clarification of his remarks linking Sikh Americans to terrorism.
