U.S.
Supreme Court green-lights lawsuit against FBI over no-fly list
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In a unanimous decision from the Supreme Court, an Oregon man’s lawsuit against the FBI is set to move forward. The no-fly list, established post-9/11 to combat terrorism, has faced longstanding criticism for its lack of transparency and alleged discriminatory practices.
Yonas Fikre, a Muslim U.S. citizen, claims he was placed on the no-fly list in 2010 as retaliation for refusing to cooperate as an informant on fellow mosque attendees in Portland, Oregon.
After declining to become an FBI informant, Fikre alleges he traveled to the United Arab Emirates where he was arrested, tortured and interrogated at the FBI’s behest.
Point phone camera here
Fikre asserts he remained stranded overseas for years, eventually returning to the United States via private jet in 2015.
Despite eight years on the list, the FBI removed Fikre in 2016 without explanation.
The FBI contends that Fikre’s removal renders the case moot, arguing his civil suit alleging reputational harm and due process violations is now irrelevant.
Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch stressed the government’s obligation to prevent future mistakes. Meanwhile, Justice Samuel Alito clarified that the FBI isn’t obliged to disclose classified information, citing airline safety and counter-terrorism efforts.
Fikre’s case will proceed in lower courts, where his claims will undergo thorough examination.
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
IN A UNANIMOUS RULING FROM THE SUPREME COURT, AN OREGON MAN’S LAWSUIT AGAINST THE FBI WILL CONTINUE.
THE NO-FLY LIST, ESTABLISHED AFTER 9/11 TO COMBAT TERRORISM, HAS LONG BEEN CRITICIZED FOR ITS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND ALLEGED DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES.
YONAS FIKRE — A MUSLIM U.S. CITIZEN – ALLEGES HE WAS ADDED TO THE “NO FLY” LIST IN 2010 — AS RETALIATION FOR REFUSING TO COOPERATE AS AN INFORMANT ON FELLOW MOSQUE ATTENDEES IN PORTLAND, OREGON.
AFTER REFUSING TO BECOME AN FBI INFORMANT, FIKRE SAYS HE FLEW TO THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES WHERE HE CLAIMS HE WAS ARRESTED, TORTURED, AND INTERROGATED AT THE DIRECTION OF THE FBI.
FIKRE SAYS HE WAS STUCK OVERSEAS FOR YEARS – AND EVENTUALLY MADE IT BACK INTO THE UNITED STATES BY A PRIVATE JET IN 2015.
AFTER EIGHT YEARS ON THE LIST, THE FBI REMOVED FIKRE IN 2016 WITHOUT EXPLANATION.
THE FBI CLAIMS THAT FIKRE’S REMOVAL FROM THE LIST MAKES THE CASE IRRELEVANT, ARGUING THAT HIS CIVIL SUIT ALLEGING REPUTATIONAL HARM AND DUE PROCESS VIOLATIONS WAS NOW MOOT.
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE NEIL GORSUCH EMPHASIZED THE GOVERNMENT’S ACTIONS FELL SHORT OF DEMONSTRATING THEY COULDN’T REPEAT PAST MISTAKES IN THE FUTURE.
AND JUSTICE SAMUEL ALITO CLARIFIED THAT THE FBI DOESN’T HAVE TO DISCLOSE CLASSIFIED INFORMATION, CITING AIRLINE SAFETY AND COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS.
FIKRE’S CASE WILL NOW PROCEED IN THE LOWER COURTS, WHERE HIS ALLEGATIONS WILL BE THOROUGHLY EXAMINED.
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