Arab-Americans Fear Anti-Terror Campaign

W A S H I N G T O N, March 20 -- The Justice Department, various U.S. attorneys and local law enforcement officials have begun another round of anti-terrorist questioning. This time, they'll be calling in some 3,000 people from countries where Osama bin Laden is known to operate.

Attorney General John Ashcroft said today that the previous interviews actually eased concerns in the Arab community. "The process of reaching out to foreign nationals and their communities fostered new trust between law enforcement and these communities," he said.

But some, like Arab American Institute president James Zogby, said Ashcroft's description could not be farther from the truth.

"Not only did the interviews that were conducted waste police man hours, they were ineffective and inefficient use of law enforcement time. But they also created fear in the community," Zogby said.

A Midwestern college student, who asked not to be identified, said a recent meeting with police left him feeling like a criminal. "I was just very scared, anxious, nervous. I just wanted to get it over with."

The student was one of several thousand foreign nationals, mostly of Arab descent, who were interviewed in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Voluntary in Name Only?

"We believe that these individuals might, either wittingly or unwittingly, be in the same circles, communities or social groups as those engaged in terrorist activities," Ashcroft said.

The government claims the first massive interview campaign produced tips about the hijackers, intelligence about their associates, and may have scared would-be terrorists. According to Ashcroft, "Such a climate could cause would-be terrorists to scale back, delay or abandon their plans altogether."

Justice officials said the interviews are voluntary. But to some of those who were questioned, like the anonymous college student in the Midwest, said the interviews are voluntary in name only.

"My conclusion was pretty much 'I don't really even have a choice.' Because if I didn't go through with it, for whatever reason, I would be even more suspect," the student said.