FBI Response to Allegations of Mosque Surveillance and Monitoring of the Muslim Community

FBI Assistant Director John Miller issued the following statement:

“The FBI does not monitor the lawful activities of individuals in the United States , nor does the FBI have a surveillance program to monitor the constitutionally protected activities of houses of worship. We do not target or monitor legal activity of Muslim groups anywhere in the nation.

“Investigations or surveillance of individuals or organizations are predicated on specific standards set in the Department Of Justice Attorney General Guidelines.

“The FBI is the lead agency for investigating violations of federal civil rights laws, and we take that responsibility very seriously. Over the last several years, the FBI has worked to strengthen its relationships with Muslim communities, resulting in many valued partnerships.

“We appreciate the assistance of the community groups for bringing these concerns to our attention. We intend to continue this dialogue.”