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CAIR Michigan calls U.S. terror watch list ruling a 'landmark decision'

Judge's gavel with books on a desk
Pixabay.com

A federal judge ruled last week that the government's terror watch list violates the constitutional rights of those placed on it.

The list contains more than one million people identified as "known or suspected terrorists."

Nearly two dozen Muslim U.S. citizens challenged the list with the help of a Muslim civil-rights group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

“We look at this ruling as a landmark decision by the court, and also vindication for the position that we've been taking for years,” said CAIR – Michigan Executive Director Dawud Walid.

The plaintiffs say they were wrongly placed on the list. They say the government's process for adding names is riddled with errors.

The court’s ruling grants the plaintiffs a summary judgement.

“We hope that it gives relief to community members throughout their travels as well as other endeavors that they are partaking in in society,” Walid said.

The judge is asking the Justice Department and the lawyers for the plaintiffs to submit additional legal briefs before deciding what remedy to impose.

Paulette is a digital media reporter and producer for Michigan Public. She started as a newsroom intern at the station in 2014 and has taken on various roles in that time, including filling in as an on-air host.
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