EUR SPECIAL REPORT: Rise in Blacks Turning to Islam Appears to Spark Law Enforcement Attacks

     First, a growing number of Blacks, especiallyfrom low-income inner city areas, are converting to the Islamic religion.

     Second, law enforcement organizations from the local police to the FBI have begun to target these Black Muslim groups with informants, disruptive tactics and raids.

     For example, last week’s raid on Iman Abdullah’s warehouse in Dearborn , Michigan was carried out by an FBI anti-terrorism unit even though the warrant for Abdullah’s arrest did not accuse him and 10 others of any terrorist or planned terrorist acts.

     Instead, the Muslims were being accused of “conspiracy to sell stolen goods and illegal possession and sale of firearms.” FBI statements following the shooting revealed that its agents knew of the group’s activities because of three paid informants they had planted inside the organization.

     The presence of law enforcement informants follows a pattern present in the recent arrests of Muslims in cities ranging from Miami and San Francisco to New York and North Carolina . But the “Black Muslims” being targeted are not the Nation of Islam Muslims who follow Minister Louis Farrakhan. Instead, these new and growing in number Muslim groups are Sunni or orthodox Muslims with distinct African American characteristics.

     The exact number of African American converts to Islam is extremely difficult to measure. But a 2007 survey by the Pew polling group placed the number of Muslims in America at 2.35 million with approximately 35 percent of those being Black Americans. But Vassar College professor and expert on American Islam Lawrence Mamiya says the number is closer to 6 million.

     Mamiya also estimates that “regular” orthodox Islamic groups in America - drawing little focus from law enforcement groups - worship in about 300 mosques spread throughout the country. The second largest group with around 100 mosques is part are of Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam. But there is a third group with 40 to 50 mosques united in the Ummah. The FBI says the word means “Brotherhood” but followers say it means “Community.”

     It is those groups associated with the predominantly African American Ummah which appear to being drawing most of the attention from law enforcement agencies as their mosques pull increasing numbers of young, inner city Black males into their ranks. Interestingly, the Ummah was founded by Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin formerly known as H. Rap Brown - the fiery Black Power militant of the 1960’s. Al-Amin is currently serving life in prison for allegedly killing two police officers.

     There is also a prison connection to other Ummah mosques. Many of the leaders have served time in prison. This may give them an advantage when communicating the tenets of Islam to inner city youth. But exactly why young Blacks are converting is unclear. Explanations range from the young California woman who told an Associated Press reporter she was drawn by the religion’s emphasis on equality and humility to a young Washington , DC man who told this reporter, “If I ever go to jail, I’ll have protection.”

     Whatever the reasons, Islam is growing in Black America. Simultaneously, law enforcement has become suspicious. And that can be a potentially dangerous and even violent development.

(source: Taylor Media Services - www.freewebs.com/blacknewsjournal/)