Chicago - A Muslim leader filed a federal lawsuit Monday claiming the Illinois State Police relieved him of his duties as its first Muslim chaplain after he failed a second background check prompted by a defamatory Internet article.
An ISP representative confirmed the Imam was not given the voluntary post because of information that turned up on that background check, but would not specify what that information was.
Kifah Mustapha claims he was not allowed to be the ISP's first Muslim chaplain because of a defamatory article published Jan. 5 by the Investigative Project on Terrorism, according to a suit filed in U.S. District Court.
Mustapha is a Burbank resident of Middle Eastern origin, according to the suit. He has more than 15 years experience providing Islamic clergy service and has been the leader and associate director of the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview since 2002.
The suit claims he applied in November 2009 to become the first Muslim chaplain for the ISP, and the agency approved his background check and application in December 2009. He was then admitted to a training program, which he completed, according to the suit.
Mustapha received an ISP identification card and was assigned to the Chicago area, according to the suit.
But on Jan. 5, the Investigative Project on Terrorism published a defamatory Internet article claiming Mustapha was a ’radical fundraiser’ and security threat, according to the suit. National media watch group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting confirmed the not-for-profit website regularly makes false assertions of anti-American and terrorist activities, the suit said.
On Feb. 1, ISP Deputy Director Patrick Keen said all seven people who received chaplain training would be required to undergo another background check, according to the suit. Mustapha received a letter June 15 from acting director Jonathon Moken saying he did not pass and his appointment was denied, the suit said.
All other chaplains were accepted, but none were Muslim, Arab or Middle Easter, the suit said. Mustapha claims the ISP actions harmed his professional reputation and falsely equated him with a security threat.
The chaplain program is a statewide network of clergy of various faiths who volunteer to help ISP employees and their families with confidential, supportive and religious needs, Master Sgt. Isaiah Vega said. Volunteers do not receive compensation or other benefits, and are not employees, contracted or otherwise, of the State of Illinois.
Vega said in December 2009, following orientation training, it was discovered that background checks required to serve as a volunteer had nor been performed. All seven volunteers were resubmitted for appropriate checks by the Division of Internal Investigation.
Due to information revealed during the background investigation, Mustapha's appointment was denied. Specific details of background investigations are confidential and cannot be discussed, he said.
Despite the inability to appoint Mustapha, ISP will continue to seek clergy with interfaith interest from diverse religions, including the Muslim faith, Vega said. The agency has contacted community groups and organizations seeking qualified applicants.
The three-count suit seeks an injunction ordering Keen and Moken to reinstate Mustapha as chaplain and award him compensatory and punitive damages, plus costs of the suit.
In a release from the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Chicago, Christina Abraham, civil rights director, said, ’It is time to put an end to the fear-mongering and anti-Muslim rhetoric that has senselessly engulfed our nation."
’The ISP’s actions are reminiscent of the Red Scare in the 1950s, when our nation smeared individuals based on suspicion and paranoia rather than evidence of wrongdoing,’ CAIR-Chicago attorney Kevin Vodak said in the release. ’The McCarthy era taught us that our government cannot engage in guilt by association.’
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