Entrapping Muslims in America - by Stephen Lendman
Post-9/11, Muslims have been ruthlessly persecuted.
Post-9/11, American Muslims became fair game, targeting them for their faith, ethnicity, and at times prominence and charity.
As a result, they've been ruthlessly vilified and exploited as "war on terror" scapegoats for political advantage.
Entrapment is commonly used. Guilt or innocence doesn't matter, just the illusion that America is safer when, in fact, every victim assures greater insecurity and fear. Many are left wondering who's next.
Entrapment occurs when law enforcement officials or agents induce, influence, or provoke crimes that otherwise wouldn't be committed. However, it doesn't apply in cases of willingness to act lawlessly, government merely aiding, abetting, or facilitating a chance to do so.
It involves the following:
- government officials or agents initiate the idea;
- individuals are persuaded to act; and
- they had no previous intent or willingness to do so.
Prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that subjects weren't entrapped. Otherwise, due process convictions are prohibited. However, in today's climate, judicial fairness is lost in cases involving anyone for political reasons.
Muslims are especially affected, America's target of choice. They've been hunted down, rounded up, held in detention, kept in isolation, denied bail, restricted in their right to counsel, tried on secret evidence, convicted on bogus charges, given long sentences, then incarcerated as political prisoners.
Charged with plotting to blow up the Pentagon and US Capitol, Reswan Ferdaus is the latest victim.
On September 28, New York Times writer Abby Goodnough headlined, "Man Is Held in a Plan to Bomb Washington," saying:
Ferdaus planned to "us(e) remote-controlled aircraft filled with plastic explosives....The arrest was the result of an undercover operation (read sting) that included a cooperating witness with a criminal record (read paid informant)."
On September 28, the FBI Boston Division headlined, "Massachusetts Man Charged with Plotting Attack on Pentagon and US Capitol and Attempting to Provide Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization," saying:
