ACLU elects Arab-American to board

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The ACLU has elected an Arab-American to its governing board for the first time in its history.

Laila Qatami, communications director for the Washington-based American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, or ADC, became the first Arab-American ever elected to the governing board of the 86-year-old American Civil Liberties Union, the Voice of America reported Thursday.

Founded in 1920, the non-profit ACLU is widely regarded as one of the leading civil rights organizations in the United States. The election of Qatami "underscores the widespread concern about Arab-American civil rights in America following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001," the VOA said.

"It is very important for the Arab-American community to have our concerns heard," Qatami said. "When we are able to help guide the legislative agenda for an organization like the ACLU, it is a very big milestone."

Qatami told the VOA that since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, her organization has been handling over 2,000 complaints per year about a wide range of civil rights violations involving the Arab-American community. She told the VOA that the ADC already often cooperated the ACLU in dealing with cases of discrimination against Arabs and Muslims.

ACLU Associate Director Greg Nojeim told the VOA that defending Arab-American rights was in the ACLU's historic tradition.

"The ACLU has always stood up for communities and individuals whose rights have been put at risk. It is the hallmark of our entire history," he said. "Since Sept. 11, 2001, Arab Americans have faced particular difficulties because the government has often focused its law enforcement efforts on Arab Americans." Nojeim adds that the ACLU has fought against the PATRIOT Act, "some of the powers of which are used to target Arab Americans."