By Allan Lengel Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, July 26, 2002; Page A12 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2987-2002Jul25.html A U.S. Secret Service agent on a Detroit anti-terror task force has been suspended after he admitted scrawling an anti-Islamic epithet on a Muslim prayer calendar during a search of a suspect's home last week, authorities said yesterday. The agent, a 10-year veteran whose name has not been released, was removed from the U.S. Attorney's Joint Terrorism Task Force in Detroit Wednesday and placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation, the Secret Service said yesterday. The agent admitted writing "Islam is Evil, Christ is King" on a calendar posted on the refrigerator in the Dearborn home of Omar Shishani, authorities said. The agent was part of a team executing a search warrant July 18. A day earlier, Shishani, 47, was arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and charged with possessing $12 million in bogus cashier's checks. Authorities have said that his name appears on a watch list of people who might have been trained in al Qaeda camps. They are trying to determine whether he has links to terrorism, something his lawyer has denied. U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Collins in Detroit said the agent could face criminal charges, including civil rights violations and exceeding authority during the execution of a search warrant, according to an office spokeswoman. Shishani's attorney, Nabih Ayad, said yesterday that the agent's action had "undermined the credibility" of the task force and the case against his client, who is being held without bond. "It is really disturbing," Ayad said. "What else is this person thinking of doing? Is he thinking of sticking something inside the home? Sticking fake phone numbers in the home? I couldn't believe someone from the federal government would do such a thing." Hodan Hassan, spokeswoman for the Council on American Islamic Relations in Washington, lauded the Secret Service for taking quick action against the agent. "We hope this sends a signal throughout law enforcement agencies that such bigoted behavior is not tolerated. This incident also highlights the need for law enforcement officials to undergo sensitivity training." The federal agent was suspended after he was interviewed by the Secret Service's Office of Inspection in Washington, said Marc Connolly, an agency spokesman. "The Secret Service does not and will not tolerate racial, cultural or religious bias," Connolly said. "The Secret Service regrets the unprofessional action taken by this individual." Federal authorities described the agent as a religious man who had no prior disciplinary actions at the agency. © 2002 The Washington Post Company ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Secret Service agent may be charged He admits he scrawled anti-Islam graffiti in raid July 26, 2002 BY CECIL ANGEL AND JIM SCHAEFER FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS http://www.freep.com/news/metro/nchecks26_20020726.htm A U.S. Secret Service agent may face criminal charges after he admitted he scrawled "ISLAM IS EVIL" and "Christ is KING" on an Islamic prayer calendar during a raid at a Dearborn house, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Collins said Thursday. "This type of unprofessional behavior by a federal agent will not be tolerated," Collins said at a news conference in Detroit. Federal officials refused to identify the agent. They would also not give his age or say exactly how long he has worked for the agency. They would only say that he's been an agent for five to 10 years. He has been placed on administrative leave with pay. FBI and Secret Service agents went to the home of Omar Shishani on Chovin in Dearborn on July 18 to execute a search warrant. Shishani had been arrested July 17 at Detroit Metro Airport after a customs inspector discovered nine counterfeit checks totaling $12 million in his possession. Shishani also is under investigation for possible links to terrorism. According to court documents, Shishani has told federal officials he was a Jordanian spy in the 1970s. When he was arrested at the airport after arriving from Indonesia, he carried a paper with Arabic verses from the Koran that appeared, in translation, to refer to martyrs and apocalyptic events, the FBI has said. Collins said the Secret Service agent's conduct would be subject to review and potential discipline by the Office of Professional Responsibility of the Secret Service. The agent could lose his job, Collins said. "His conduct is also under investigation for possible criminal charges," Collins said. The agent could be charged with acting in excess of his authority in the execution of a search warrant, Collins said. The agent also could face charges related to civil rights violations. Marc Connolly, a Secret Service spokesman in Washington, said the agent came forward with his admission Tuesday evening, after media reports surfaced about the graffiti. The next morning, he was ordered to report to Washington, was interviewed and suspended with pay, Connolly said. Collins said his office has worked to have good relations with Arab Americans. "This unprofessional conduct by a single agent is a gross aberration and a great embarrassment," Collins said. "I'm glad they discovered who it was, and they'll take action," Omar Shishani's brother Abdallah Shishani, 44, said Thursday. "I just want to see justice." Abdallah Shishani and his wife Petimat Magomadova, 35, were at the house when the federal agents arrived last week but were taken outside during the search. "Wow. OK. That's good news," said Hodan Hassan, spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington. "We're pleased with the swift action on this. I think this goes a long way in assuring us that as the FBI conducts their investigation, there will be zero tolerance in regards to such behavior." Abdallah Shishani contacted the council, which wrote U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft complaining about the incident. The group never heard from Ashcroft, Hassan said. Imad Hamad, Michigan director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee said: "It's revealed that bias and hatred does still exist -- even in elements of law enforcement agencies -- against Arab Americans, and it's not a product of imagination. . . . It's going to continue to be a challenge to all of us." Contact CECIL ANGEL at 313-223-4531 or angel@freepress.com. |