Projects
Racial Profiling and the "War on Terror"
In its work to end human rights abuses in the global "War on Terror," the Center has tried to address the disparate impacts the so-called war has had on particular communities, both within and outside of the United States. Around the world, many governments have institutionalized policies of discriminatory profiling of individuals deemed to be terrorism "suspects" on the basis of their race, religion, ethnicity, and/or national origin. Two of the Center's recent reports highlight the problematic use of such profiling in the context of "shoot-to-kill" policies and in security checks for U.S. naturalization applications. The Center is currently producing a documentary based on its report on citizenship delays.
DOCUMENTARY'Americans on Hold': Documentary Project (2008)In 2007, CHRGJ released its report Americans on Hold: Profiling, Citizenship, and the “War on Terror,” which documents the impact of citizenship delays on the lives of applicants who are kept in limbo, sometimes for years on end. Inspired by these stories, CHRGJ is producing a documentary film, which will be used as an advocacy tool to raise awareness on the issue. |
REPORT
Mohammad Razvi and Cyrus D. Mehta at launch of report Americans on Hold: Profiling, Citizenship, and the "War on Terror"
'Americans on Hold': Profiling, Citizenship, and the "War on Terror" (2007)
(New York, April 25, 2007) The U.S. government is illegally delaying the naturalization applications of thousands of immigrants by profiling individuals it perceives to be Muslim and subjecting them to indefinite security checks, charged the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice (CHRGJ) in a new report released today.
The 63-page report, titled 'Americans on Hold': Profiling, Citizenship, and the "War on Terror," documents the impact of expanded security checks on the lives of those experiencing citizenship delays, often for years on end. The report analyzes these delays and their impact within an international human rights framework, and offers specific policy recommendations to help end discrimination in access to citizenship and other human rights violations.
Profiled Immigrants Delayed Years in Seeking Citizenship (CHRGJ Press Release, Apr. 25, 2007)
Full Report (63 pages), Briefing Report (12 pages) and a one-page summary in Arabic and in Urdu
Jayne Huckerby and Lema Bashir at launch of report Americans on Hold: Profiling, Citizenship, and the "War on Terror" |
NEWInterview with Jayne Huckerby, WBAI, Asia Pacific Forum, May 29, 2007 On May 21, 2007, Prof. Narula was interviewed live and in Urdu on Pakistan Satellite TV's news program. Interview with Prof. Narula and Mohammad Razvi, WNYC, Leonard Lopate Show, May 17, 2007 Interview with Jayne Huckerby and Mohammad Razvi, WBAI, War on Immigrants Report, May 1, 2007 Interview with Prof. Narula, WBAI, Talk Back, April 30, 2007 The April 27, 2007 Brooklyn launch was covered by Brooklyn Channel 12 News (link coming soon). The April 24, 2007 report launch at NYU was featured on Bridges TV - aired May 5, 2007 (link coming soon). |
CHRGJ Human Rights Law Podcast Series
AOH Segment 2: Interview with Prof. Smita Narula, Faculty Director, CHRGJ
AOH Segment 3: Lives Affected by Name Check Delays
AOH Segment 4: Interview with Jayne Huckerby, Research Director, CHRGJ
AOH Segment 5: Interview with Mohammad Razvi, Executive Director, Council of Peoples Organization
SUBMISSION
Written Submission to U.N. Human Rights Committee (July 2006)
This 11-page note was submitted to the Committee for the Committee's examination of the second and third periodic reports of the U.S. and addresses how "shoot-to-kill" policies with respect to suspected suicide bombers may potentially violate Articles 2, 6 and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
REPORT
Irreversible Consequences: Racial Profiling and Lethal Force in the "War on Terror" (2006)
This 71-page report critiques two trends in "shoot-to-kill" policies that are embodied in Training Keys issued by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP): the use of certain behavioral and other indicators to detect a suicide bomber that act as proxies for religious, racial, ethnic and nationality profiling; and removal of the usual safeguards that attach to the use of force when responding to the threat of suicide bombers.
