New York Unveils Terror Whistleblower Protection Bill

If you see something, say something.

That's what law enforcement and government officials have been urging people to do when they're out and about - at airports, on trains, on buses, on subways, and on the streets.

If they see something that looks out of the ordinary, they should contact law enforcement.

Yet, there are those who are trying to thwart this policy by bringing lawsuits against people who report suspicious actions. That's the case in the flying imams kerfuffle. They want to bring suit against those who singled out the six imams who acted suspiciously and were detained at an airport. They claim discrimination even as there is clear evidence that the six were actively and purposefully engaging in behavior that would arouse suspicions.

Such suits would have the effect of making people reconsider reporting suspicious activities. Note this isn't about reporting people on the basis of race or ethnicity, but on actions.

With this in mind, a New York Assemblyman is proposing a bill that would extend protections to such individuals who come forward to report suspicious activities.

Lancman said his bill would be similar to one passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, which offers immunity for citizens reporting suspicious activities relating to transportation security.

The Democrat said his legislation will "cover all circumstances" and won't be limited to transportation. In the meantime, Lancman again lashed out at Human Rights Commissioner Omar Mohammedi.

Mohammedi is defending six Arizona imams who are filing suit against several US Airways passengers for reporting that they were acting suspiciously on a Minneapolis flight to Phoenix.

Lancman said Mohammedi is president of the New York Chapter of the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR), which Lancman said is a front for the terrorist group Hamas.

The New York Sun reported on Mohammedi yesterday, and Lanceman wondered whose human rights Mohammedi is actually looking out for when trying to push the suit against well meaning US Airways passengers who reported the imams' suspicious activities to authorities. Lancemen questioned whether Mohammedi should remain on the NYC Human Rights Commission as he was pushing the flying imams case, though the Bloomberg Administration claimed that Mohammedi has the right to represent anyone as a private attorney. Funny thing is, that he's got a public role in being a member of the Commission, and there is a potential conflict of interests here.