American Bar Association Condemns Religious Profiling

At its annual meeting yesterday, the American Bar Association House of Delegates voted to expand its policy against racial and ethnic profiling by police to also condemn profiling on the basis of actual or perceived religious affiliation. (ABA Press Release). Resolution 116 (full text) still permits police to make mention of traditional religious dress when issuing a description of a suspect. A report (full text Word.doc) accompanying the text of the resolution says that, since 9/11, the FBI, customs and immigration enforcement, and local police are all profiling Muslims.