Omar and Tlaib applaud court decision banning terrorist watchlist

The terror watchlist was challenged by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, whose director said Israel should be terminated.

By World Israel News Staff and AP

U.S. congresswomen Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) are welcoming a federal judge’s ruling on Wednesday that the government’s watchlist of more than 1 million people identified as “known or suspected terrorists” violates the constitutional rights of those placed on it.

Earlier this year, the House of Representatives adopted a proposal from Rep. Omar that would force President Donald Trump’s administration to disclose details of how it shares the watchlist, which was said to be disseminated to a variety of governmental departments, foreign governments, and police agencies.

“This is tremendous. Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard to make sure Constitutional rights are extended to all regardless of religion, race or ethnicity!” Omar tweeted on Thursday. 

The ruling from U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga grants summary judgment to nearly two dozen Muslim U.S. citizens who had challenged the watchlist with the help of a Muslim civil-rights group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

The judge is seeking additional legal briefs before deciding what remedy to impose.

CAIR has been accused of links to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood and its director, Hussam Ayloush, in November tweeted that the Middle East would be better off if Israel were “terminated.”

Omar and Tlaib, who are both Muslim, have been shown to have ties with CAIR.

Omar was invited as a keynote speaker in March to fundraise for the organization. In April, Tlaib reportedly expressed a need to “protect” anti-Israel figures like CAIR leader Zahra Billoo.

Both congresswomen support the anti-Israel BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement.

“I have heard of horrifying stories of Muslim Americans who were placed on the so-called ‘watch list,’ with no pathway (you know, due process!) to getting their names removed. Today, it’s Muslims, but tomorrow it can be you, if we don’t stop this madness,” Tlaib tweeted in the aftermath of the court ruling.

The FBI declined comment on Wednesday’s ruling by the federal judge. In court, the FBI’s lawyers argued that the difficulties suffered by the plaintiffs pale in comparison to the government’s interests in combating terrorism.