The American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), has called for an independent investigation into the death of Imam Luqman Ameen Abdullah and suggested that the FBI not link the raids or the allegations against the suspects to the Islamic faith. According to the statement:
It is imperative that an independent investigation of Imam Luqman Ameen Abdullah’s death make public the exact circumstances in which he died. And unless the FBI has evidence linking the criminal allegations to the religious affiliation of the suspects, we ask that federal authorities stop injecting religion into this case. The unjustified linkage of this case to the faith Islam will only serve to promote an increase in existing anti-Muslim stereotyping and bias in our society.
The AMT supplanted an earlier electoral coalition known as the American Muslim Political Coordination Council (AMPCC). According to its website, the AMT is made up of all the major U.S. Muslim Brotherhood organizations. In 2004, national news described the founding of the AMT as follows:
The leading Muslim organizations have been so outraged over the USA Patriot Act (search) that they have banded together as the American Muslim Taskforce (search) to make civil rights their top issue in the presidential race.
AMT activities appear to be similar to those of the AMPCC although consistent with the groups ostensible civil-rights agenda, the organization has defended high-profile terror suspects such as Sami Al-Arian. The AMT endorsed John Kerry for President in 2004 after its predecessor supported Bush in 2000.
The U.S. Muslim Brotherhood frequently acts in coalitions, creating the impression of a variety of diverse organizations.