Another US Veteran Faces Neglect and Frustration From the Highest levels of Government:
Posted by muslimvet on October 16th, 2007
CAIR Georgia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Bilal Mahmud U.S. Veteran Faces Neglect…
Post 9/11 Hearing with Congressman John Conyers October
2004. Washington, D.C.
Contact: CAIR – Georgia
Contact Person: Yusof Burke / Telephone Number: 770-220-0082
Email Address: cair@cair-northgeorgia.org
Web site address: www.CAIR-Net.Org or http://www.cair-northgeorgia.org
Another US Veteran Faces Neglect and Frustration From the Highest levels of Government: Vietnam Veteran Continues Fight Against Homeland Security!
Atlanta, Georgia – 08/08/08
Bilal Mahmud, a US Citizen and Vietnam Veteran, continues his struggle for justice and the pursuit of happiness.
On 18 July 2007 Mr. Mahmud filed suit in THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA (Atlanta Division), requesting a trail by jury, in his suit against Justin Oberman, formerly of the US Department of Homeland Security and 10 other un-named defendants.
According to civil action filed, “on July 30, 2004, Mr. Oberman, then an official of the Department of Homeland Security, revoked the endorsement on Mahmud’s commercial driver’s license that allowed him to transport so-called “hazardous” materials, primarily paint and corrosives, such as batteries. Prior to the action undertaken by the Defendants herein, Mahmud did not transport any form of explosives or material used in warfare, except for transporting a truck load of ammunition to the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary two or three times in twenty years of employment.”
“At the time that the Oberman revoked Mahmud’s hazardous materials endorsement, Oberman was well aware that Mahmud had not engaged in any unlawful activity whatsoever. Oberman had no reasonable suspicion, much less probable cause, to believe that Mahmud had engaged in any crime, much less activity related to terrorism. Oberman had no reasonable suspicion, much less probable cause to believe that Mahmud was a threat to national security, or posed any danger whatsoever to transportation security. Oberman was well aware that Mahmud had never encouraged or engaged in any act of terrorism (including the financial support of terrorism), within or without the United States, and was not a threat to National Security, or transportation security.”
However, on June 19, 2007, the federal court dismissed Mahmud’s lawsuit, holding that “the law did not provide any remedy for damages as a result of Oberman’s behavior”. In other words, the court indicated that the law allows a public official to take away a person’s rights without notice, without a hearing, and because of a person’s race or ethnicity. Mahmud has decided to appeal this unjust ruling because, if allowed to stand, this ruling will affect the rights of thousands of Muslims and other religious and ethnic minorities in the United States.
Just like most of you, Bilal Mahmud is a good citizen. He is a natural born United States citizen, and a descendant of slaves, born in Richmond, Virginia; he currently resides in the greater Atlanta Metropolitan area.
Mr. Mahmud served, in a Marine Combat Unit, in Vietnam, (3rd Battalion 1st Marines) and received an honorable discharge from the United States Marine Corps; he does not smoke, drink alcohol, or use any type of drugs. He is loving husband of over (34 years) and a giving father to three wonderful children. He is an observant Muslim and has never been arrested, indicted, or convicted of any crime or participated or encouraged any act of sedition against the United States of America.
Mr. Mahmud has never been interviewed by any law enforcement official or any employee or official of any United States agency; including, but not limited to, the Department of Homeland Security. In fact, Bilal Mahmud is a model citizen.
He is a co-founder and serves as one of five permanent members of the Board of Trustees of the Al-Farooq Masjid of Atlanta, a religious institution (Mosque) devoted to the service of the international Muslim community of greater Atlanta and the Southeastern United States of America. Al-Farooq Masjid is a nonprofit, non-political, religious organization that enjoys a stellar reputation for integrity and service to the community.
He chairs efforts of the al-Farooq Masjid with the distribution of charitable donations made to the institution for indigent members of the Atlanta community, both Muslim and non-Muslim. This charitable work includes, without limitation, distribution of food and other essentials to the poor, elderly and infirm.
Mahmud is a model, loyal United States citizen who placed himself in harm’s way to serve his country in the United States Marine Corp, who strictly complies and has always complied with the laws of the United States, and local governments, who serves his community by assisting those in need. He is without any form or manner of racial prejudice, respecting all individuals, regardless of their ethnicity.
For twenty (20) years immediately prior to August 10, 2004, Mahmud was an employee of Old Dominion. During the course of his employment, Mahmud was never disciplined or reprimanded, orally or in writing, in any manner or form whatsoever. To the contrary, Mahmud was a model employee who timely, efficiently, and professionally performed his job at Old Dominion without incident or making any complaint whatsoever.
Fortunately, Bilal Mahmud seeks to take a stand on behalf of all Americans, all Veterans and all of us who are victims of an injustice that mocks the spirit and the essence of the US Constitution and belittles the moral obligations of a government created to protect the rights of the individual.
This is not only an assault on the rights of Muslims, or on the rights of African Americans, it is a total disregard for justice and a slap in the face of those Veterans who have given their lives for the cause of Freedom.
From the mistreatment of Veterans at Walter Reed Hospital, to the homeless Veterans living on the streets of America, there has been total disregard for what is right and just. A government must be accountable for the actions taken against its citizenry.
Not only should we support Bilal Mahmud in his struggle for justice, we should elect him to Congress. As a country, we would find it almost impossible to locate 53 members (only 10 percent) of the US House and Senate, whose records of service to this country and to the needy that could match the accomplishments of Bilal Mahmud.
For additional information, or to contribute to the Bilal Mahmud Fund for Justice, please contact:
Name: Bilal Mahmud
P.O. Box 1241
Conley, Ga. 30288-7018
Email: jabal1470@yahoo.com
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