Statement from Glenn Katon, Legal Director of Muslim Advocates

Muslim Advocates supports the filing today by Profeta & Eisentein and the New York Civil Liberties Union in the case of Handschu v. Special Services Division, seeking an injunction to stop the NYPD from spying on Muslims based solely on their faith. The motion asks for a court order under the guidelines established in the decades old case and provides the court with new evidence of the methods an impact of the City's illegal spying program.

Although the Handschu case in Manhattan federal court is completely separate from the Hassan v. City of New York case pending in Newark federal court, today's Handschu filing strengthens the Hassan plaintiffs position that the NYPD is unlawfully targeting Muslims without any evidence of wrongdoing. Spying on innocent Americans because of their faith violates the most basic constitutional principles upon which our country was founded. The NYPD must stop its discriminatory practices of singling out Americans because of their faith.