Muslims Protest Border Check

An Islamic civil rights group accused U.S. border agents Wednesday of religious profiling after dozens of American Muslims were searched, fingerprinted and photographed on return from a religious conference in Toronto.

Some of those stopped said they were held at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge for six hours or more with no explanation.

A spokeswoman for Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection said agents stopped anyone who said they had attended the three-day convention, titled “Reviving the Islamic Spirit,” based on information that such gatherings could be a means for terrorists to promote their cause.

“I asked, ‘If I refuse to give my fingerprints, what will you do?’ ” said Galeb Rizek, 32. “[The agent] said, ‘You can refuse, but you’ll be here until you do.’ ”

Rizek, who was born in the United States and whose family owns a hotel in Niagara Falls, said he was a frequent traveler across the border and had never been fingerprinted or photographed in the past. “You really feel like a criminal and you haven’t done anything wrong,” he said.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington demanded an investigation by Homeland Security officials.

“The image of a room full of American Muslim citizens apparently being held solely because of their faith and the fact that they attended an Islamic conference is one that should be disturbing to all Americans who value religious freedom,” Executive Director Nihad Awad said.

Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman Kristie Clemens said 34 people were stopped at the Lewiston crossing and four others were checked at the nearby Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls. They were held for an average of 2 1/2 hours and offered coffee and tea, she said.

“As the front-line border agency, it is our duty to verify the identity of individuals -- including U.S. citizens -- and one way of doing that is fingerprinting,” Clemens said.