WASHINGTON, May 15: Republican and Democrat lawmakers in the US Congress are jointly pushing for a law that would allow Americans to report anyone as a terrorism suspect without fearing repercussions.
Under the present arrangement, the accuser may face legal actions if the charges are not proven.
The bipartisan coalition that is pushing the new legislation in the House of Representatives and the Senate includes such prominent lawmakers as Senator Joe Lieberman, a vice-presidential candidate in the 2006 elections. Mr Lieberman is now chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee in the Senate, which enables him to play a key role in making this law.
Senator Susan Collins of Maine, the ranking Republican in the panel, also supports the move.
“If you see something, you should say something, and not have to worry about being sued,” said Senator Jon Kyl, another supporter of the move.
The measure was introduced in the Senate late Friday with a strong bipartisan backing.
“Since 2001, when we were struck on our own shores by Islamist terrorists, the idea has taken hold that everyone needs to be alert to possible terrorist incidents," said Mr Lieberman, a member of the Democratic caucus.
The legislation will give immunity from civil lawsuits in federal and state courts to citizens who report suspicious activity to appropriate law-enforcement and transportation-system officials. The bill would not protect individuals who knowingly make false statements.
A House version introduced on Monday is sponsored by Rep. Steve Pearce, New Mexico Republican; Rep. Peter T. King, New York Republican and ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee; and Rep. Bill Shuster, Pennsylvania Republican.
“In a post-9/11 reality, passenger vigilance is essential to security. If we fail to protect passengers that report suspicious behaviour, it would be a huge victory for terrorists,” Congressman King said.
The bills are in response to a lawsuit filed by a group of Muslim imams who are suing yet-unknown passengers for reporting them to security officials at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in November last year.
All six Muslim imams were removed from a US Airways flight on Nov 20, 2006 and questioned by police for several hours when some passengers saw them saying their Maghrib prayers and reported it to the authorities as a suspicious activity.
The lawsuit, however, annoyed many in America who say that the passengers have the right to report any activity that they see as suspicious because it can pose a direct threat to their safety.
“It is a sad commentary that this kind of common sense has to be written into law, but we must make it clear to America's enemies that they cannot exploit our system of justice,” Congressman Pearce said.
Added Congressman Shuster: “No American should be forced to second-guess a decision to alert authorities that could save the lives of others.”
But civil and Muslim rights groups say that the proposed law would make it difficult for Muslims to travel, say their prayers at public places or even speak their native languages aboard a plane as all these activities have been reported as suspicious in the past.
They say that providing legal protection to tipsters would make the Muslims in the United States even more vulnerable.