FBI agent training
Listed below is the training that all FBI agents go through according to the FBI website:
"All special agents begin their career at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia for 20 weeks of intensive training at one of the world’s finest law enforcement training facilities. During their time there, trainees live on campus and participate in a variety of training activities. Classroom hours are spent studying a wide variety of academic and investigative subjects, including the fundamentals of law, behavioral science, report writing, forensic science, and basic and advanced investigative, interviewing, and intelligence techniques. Students also learn the intricacies of counterterrorism, counterintelligence, weapons of mass destruction, cyber, and criminal investigations to prepare them for their chosen career paths. The curriculum also includes intensive training in physical fitness, defensive tactics, practical application exercises, and the use of firearms. For more information, see our New Agent Training webpage. Over the course of their career, agents are also updated on the latest developments in the intelligence and law enforcement communities through additional training opportunities."
However, according to Spencer Ackerman, some the curriculum taught to FBI agents in training is anti-Islamic. Apparently the FBI recommended anti-Islam reading to their trainees, as well as showed powerpoint presentations putting Muslims in negative light. One example of graphs shown during these instructional courses is the following:
The course was taught by a man by the name of William Gawthrop, a known opposer of Islam. In the past Gawthrop has claimed that the mindset of the Prophet Muhammad is a source of terrorism. He was also an important figure in the birther movement. He has claimed that all Muslims are potential terrorists and the more devout a Muslim is, the more dangerous they are.
The FBI claims that is has stopped any anti-Islam training.
"All special agents begin their career at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia for 20 weeks of intensive training at one of the world’s finest law enforcement training facilities. During their time there, trainees live on campus and participate in a variety of training activities. Classroom hours are spent studying a wide variety of academic and investigative subjects, including the fundamentals of law, behavioral science, report writing, forensic science, and basic and advanced investigative, interviewing, and intelligence techniques. Students also learn the intricacies of counterterrorism, counterintelligence, weapons of mass destruction, cyber, and criminal investigations to prepare them for their chosen career paths. The curriculum also includes intensive training in physical fitness, defensive tactics, practical application exercises, and the use of firearms. For more information, see our New Agent Training webpage. Over the course of their career, agents are also updated on the latest developments in the intelligence and law enforcement communities through additional training opportunities."
However, according to Spencer Ackerman, some the curriculum taught to FBI agents in training is anti-Islamic. Apparently the FBI recommended anti-Islam reading to their trainees, as well as showed powerpoint presentations putting Muslims in negative light. One example of graphs shown during these instructional courses is the following:
The course was taught by a man by the name of William Gawthrop, a known opposer of Islam. In the past Gawthrop has claimed that the mindset of the Prophet Muhammad is a source of terrorism. He was also an important figure in the birther movement. He has claimed that all Muslims are potential terrorists and the more devout a Muslim is, the more dangerous they are.
The FBI claims that is has stopped any anti-Islam training.
How are FBI trainers and curriculum chosen?
I have searched, and searched all over the internet trying to find a link, article, something to tell me how the instructors are chosen. After scouring the FBI website I am still at zero. There is nothing on the internet, which I find to be really surprising. However, this is an excellent idea for a FOIA Request.
"There is still a real ignorance and to some degree a real fear of Islam that has found a surprising home in the FBI", he said.
"If they spend their time and resources going after indicators of violent behavior based on the amount of religiosity a person displays, then first of all they are not going to get actual terrorists, but innocent people."
In this second video from the Alyona show's youtube channel, the host talks about the accusations made by Spencer Ackerman and in support of Muslims. She also shows the graph I posted earlier. For the description of the video, it was written,
"Spencer Ackerman from Wired's Danger Room has acquired a course handbook used to train FBI counterterrorism officers at the FBI training ground in Quantico Virginia. The course focuses solely on the threat of terror from Muslims, and encourages trainees to focus on a Muslim's religion as the sole factor in determining if they might be a terrorist. What's worse, use of the word "radical" isn't even a focus in this handbook because according to these teachings, even mainstream Muslims are terrorist sympathizers. So basically, every Muslims likes terrorists according to them.
What is FOIA?
- FOIA is a law that gives you the right to access information from the federal government.
- Often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government.
- Under the FOIA, agencies must disclose any information that is requested – unless that information is protected from public disclosure.
- The FOIA also requires that agencies automatically disclose certain information, including frequently requested records.
- As Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court have all recognized, the FOIA is a vital part of our democracy.
Actions taken by CAIR on anti-Muslim FBI training and related incidents
- San Diego CAIR chapter, various mosques in the surrounding area, and many civil rights groups submitted a letter to the San Diego FBI asking for clarification on media reports about FBI anti-muslim training and instructors.
- CAIR national sent a letter to FBI director Robert Mueller calling for swift reforms on the agency's use of anti-Islam training material and instructors.
- CAIR called on the CIA not to use one of the Islamophobic counter-terror trainers who were exposed on NPR for allegedly smearing a respected Ohio Muslim.
- CAIR has in the past called on the Obama administration, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and Congress to provide oversight for apparently widespread anti-Muslim bias in the training of law enforcement, security and military personnel nationwide
- CAIR noted the release of an 80-page report by Political Research Associates (PRA), titled “Manufacturing the Muslim Menace: Private Firms, Public Servants, & the Threat to Rights and Security,” which details a systemic failure to regulate content in counterterrorism training.
- CAIR’s New York chapter (CAIR-NY) called on the New York Police Department (NYPD) to investigate how a notorious anti-Muslim propaganda film came to be used in mandatory counterterrorism training.
- CAIR and the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Race and Gender released a report that documents growing Islamophobia in the United States and offers recommendations about how to challenge the troubling phenomenon.
Media Coverage dedicated to FBI Anti-Islam training
In this first video from Al-Jazeerah, there is an interview with Spencer Ackerman, a journalist for Wired.com, who first came out with the accusations against the FBI and it's training. Ackerman also told Al-Jazeera why the FBI teachings are "constitutionally dicey".
"There is still a real ignorance and to some degree a real fear of Islam that has found a surprising home in the FBI", he said.
"If they spend their time and resources going after indicators of violent behavior based on the amount of religiosity a person displays, then first of all they are not going to get actual terrorists, but innocent people."
In this second video from the Alyona show's youtube channel, the host talks about the accusations made by Spencer Ackerman and in support of Muslims. She also shows the graph I posted earlier. For the description of the video, it was written,
"Spencer Ackerman from Wired's Danger Room has acquired a course handbook used to train FBI counterterrorism officers at the FBI training ground in Quantico Virginia. The course focuses solely on the threat of terror from Muslims, and encourages trainees to focus on a Muslim's religion as the sole factor in determining if they might be a terrorist. What's worse, use of the word "radical" isn't even a focus in this handbook because according to these teachings, even mainstream Muslims are terrorist sympathizers. So basically, every Muslims likes terrorists according to them.
Public Officials on FBI Anti-islam training
In this video, FBI director Robert Mueller addresses the issue of anti-Islam training. He claims that they were isolated incidents in unusual circumstances. However, he does say that the FBI is doing a review of the training to eliminate any kind of prejudice that may exist. When the speaker counteracts this, he does not agree with her, but says that the goal of the FBI is to counteract threats to the U.S. but they should not be religion based or religiously characterized.
