Imam Abdul Alim Musa Joins List Of Muslims Attacked By U.S. Police

Imam Abdul Alim Musa Joins List Of Muslims Attacked By U.S. Police


TORONTO (Crescent International) -- Imam Abdul Alim Musa, of the Masjid al-Islam in Washington DC, one of the most active American Muslim leaders, joined the list of Muslims to suffer harassment at the hands of the U.S. police on July 7, when he was assaulted, threatened with a gun and then arrested for no reason.

Imam Musa, who is also a member of the Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought (ICIT) and a well-known speaker around the world, was returning to the Masjid al-Islam from a community picnic at around 7 pm, when he saw police beating another motorist. The motorist, Danny Proctor, was hanging out of the car while two officers were beating him with batons; blood was oozing from his head. A third officer was holding his legs from the other side.

Imam Musa stopped his car and shouted to the police to stop. When they continued, Imam Musa went over to them and grabbed the batons of both officers. For a few moments, the situation was brought under control. A third police officer then pulled out his gun and demanded that Imam Musa get down on his knees. He refused. By this time, a number of other motorists had also stopped. Imam Musa’s wife, Sister Bahiya Ali and their three-year-old daughter were witnessing this brutal and criminal behaviour of the police.

Perhaps shocked at Imam Musa’s defiance and the fact that there were so many witnesses, the police officer put his gun back in his holster but he and the other officers manhandled Imam Musa to the ground and handcuffed him.

For attempting to prevent the police from beating a man almost to death, Imam Musa was charged with "assaulting the police." He spent two nights in jail before appearing before a judge on July 10. He was also denied the medication he has been taking since last month, when he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung (he was unable to attend the ICIT Seerah conference in Sri Lanka), and was in hospital until a weak before the incident. In court, the police reduced the charge against him to a misdemeanor, aware that they would not be able to sustain the assault charge.

Police brutality has become common in America. Imam Musa’s case simply confirms what many others face everyday in the US. Last year, a Muslim brother was shot dead in front of his apartment after the police accused him of failing to stop at a red light. A Muslimah, seven months pregnant, was arrested when she called the police about a white male loitering outside her house. The police accused her of possessing a weapon, yet none was found. Such cases are widespread and life is becoming increasingly difficult for people of colour.

Since the Rodney King episode in 1993, the Los Angeles police has been exposed as a bunch of thugs. New York, too, has been in the spotlight since the brutal assault on Haitian immigrant Leuma Abner in July 1997 and the brutal, senseless killing of Ahmed Diallo in 1998.

The danger that Imam Musa potentially faced, if he been in the same situation at a different time say, is illustrated by the case of Imam Jamil al-Amin of Atlanta. He is facing a murder charge and the prosecution have demanded the death penalty, even though there is strong evidence in his favour, and he has a long record of police harassment dating back to before his conversion to Islam. To their eternal shame, many so-called Muslim leaders have distanced themselves from Imam Jamil’s case and are not prepared even to help in his legal defence which is his fundamental right.