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US Muslims seek clarification on Hajj pilgrims fingerprinting

By: Salem Yazdi

WASHINGTON: The Bush administration has been called on by a national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group to clarify whether US Muslims participating in this year's Hajj to the holy city of Mecca will be fingerprinted or singled out for special security measures based on their participation in the annual religious rite.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also created a "Hajji Hotline" and a downloadable incident report form for those who believe their constitutional rights are being violated by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials.

CAIR's actions follow reports that dozens of American Muslim citizens were singled out recently for security checks and fingerprinting based on their attendance at an Islamic conference in Canada.

Several of the Muslim detainees told CAIR they objected strenuously to being fingerprinted, but were informed by CBP representatives that "you have no rights" and that they would be held until they agreed to the fingerprinting procedure.

An agency spokesperson later admitted that the Muslim citizens were fingerprinted because of their participation in the Canadian conference.

CAIR called for an investigation of that incident, saying it was a disturbing example of religious profiling that would have a chilling effect on the constitutional rights of American Muslims.

Despite repeated requests for clarification from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and CBP, no clear response has been given as to whether mere participation in Islamic religious activities is now being viewed as "probable cause" for increased security checks or forced fingerprinting of US citizens.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has issued over 1.2 million visas for pilgrims intending to perform the annual hajj (pilgrimage) to the holy city of Mecca.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for Consular Affairs Ibrahim Al-Kharashi announced also that visas issued for performing umrah during the current Islamic calendar year 1425, which ends in over a month, increased by 16 percent to over 2.6 million.

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