3/13 Update: Unfortunately, we have had to cancel this event due to the rapidly developing situation of COVID-19 (coronavirus). We hope to reschedule this conversation for a later date.

Join the Center for Constitutional Rights, CLEAR, and Justice for Muslims Collective for a panel discussion the evening before Supreme Court arguments in Tanzin v. Tanvir, a case brought on behalf of American Muslims who were placed or kept on the No-Fly List by the FBI for refusing to spy on their Muslim communities.

Plaintiffs and lawyers involved in the Tanvir lawsuit and advocates working to challenge law enforcement’s targeting of Muslims and other communities will share how they are using law, advocacy, and community awareness to draw attention to these practices and demand accountability. 

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP.

More about Tanzin v. Tanvir: this case highlights a broader context of targeting of Muslims by law enforcement. The No-Fly List and other secret watch lists, extensive surveillance of religious and community spaces, aggressive informant recruitment, and holds on immigration status and other benefits are tools used by law enforcement to target and intimidate Muslims and other communities into spying. After CLEAR, the Center for Constitutional Rights, and the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton filed the lawsuit, plaintiffs were removed from the No-Fly List, but they continued to pursue their claims against the individual FBI agents who tried to coerce them into spying and retaliated against them when they refused. The question before the Supreme Court is about accountability: can individuals receive damages when government officials have interfered with their freedom to practice their religion? 

Speakers

Naveed Shinwari is a plaintiff in the Tanvir case. Naveed was repeatedly questioned and harassed by the FBI as they attempted to recruit him to spy on his community. As retaliation for his refusal to do so, Naveed was placed on the No-Fly List and unable to travel to Afghanistan to visit his wife and daughters for two years. His fight to hold government officials accountable for their abuse of power continues. On March 24, his case will be argued before the Supreme Court.

Naz Ahmad is a Staff Attorney with the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility (CLEAR) project. CLEAR aims to address the unmet legal needs of Muslim, Arab, South Asian, and other communities in the New York City area that are particularly affected by national security and counterterrorism policies and practices. She is counsel in Tanzin v. Tanvir.

Shayana Kadidal is a Senior Managing Attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights, where he has worked on several significant cases arising in the wake of 9/11, including challenges to the indefinite detention of men at Guantánamo and domestic immigration sweeps. He is counsel in Tanzin v. Tanvir.

Learn more.