Muslim Legal Fund of America
Background Information
The Muslim Legal Fund of America ("MLFA") was established in November 2001 by a coalition of civil rights to combat the discrimination towards individuals due to religious reasons. Historically, the communities have not been excluded from discrimination, but after the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 the religion was heavily targeted and increased discrimination, hate violations, and racial profiling, not covered by the law, by both public and private actors.
The immediate response to the attack was to harass and question Muslims who were and are protected by the U.S. constitution.The freedom of speech, association, and religion protects all U.S. citizens but The Department of Justice initiated an investigation fueled by selective immigration enforcement by targeting Arabs, Muslims, and South Asians for deportation. Non-immigrant individuals, especially men, between the ages of 16 and 45 with a background in Muslim countries had to register with the government by the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System ("NSEERS"). Even after non-immigrants registered, the government deported thousands of Muslim men and disrupted the lives of tens of thousands of Muslim families in America. Hate crimes by revengeful individuals continued and acts such as bombing mosques, defaming mosques with swastikas and anti-Muslim slurs, beating Muslims in public areas, forcibly removing head coverings off of Muslim women's head, and murdering Muslims.
Current and Previous Cases
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The Muslim Legal Fund of America is the only national legal fund that focuses on protecting Muslims' civil liberties in the justice system. MLFA is a non profit organization and charity that supports targeted Muslim Americans that seek guidance in defending their liberties such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, right to a fair trial, due process of law, freedom from guilt by association, and the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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The Muslim Legal Fund of America supports legal cases that target the Muslim American community and provides aid to protect the civil rights given by the U.S. constitution. The main issues are:
Images to the right in order: Holy Land Foundation, Sheikh Ibrahim Dremali, Irvine Eleven, Jamal Abusamhadaneh, Imam Foad Farahi, Six Imams (Flying While Muslim) Dr. Amr Mohsen, Abu Ratib, Islamic American Relief Agency, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, Haseeb Chisty, Faran Khan
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Ralph Nader Speaks at Muslim Legal Fund of America Event
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Muslim Legal Fund of America Documentary of Somalian communities
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Title Image: http://www.mlfa.org/sites/default/files/mlfalogo.jpg