 employed undercover cops, informants and, significantly, “unprecedented help” from the CIA, which is technically barred from spying on Americans. A taste of the NYPD’s activities:

In just two episodes showing how widely the NYPD cast its net, the department sought a rundown from the taxi commission of every Pakistani cab driver in the city, and produced an analytical report on every mosque within 100 miles, officials said.

Some Muslims, particularly cab drivers, complain of being subjected to “voluntary interrogations” by police, encounters that, while legal, prove intimidating and alienating.

The latest report disclosed by the AP, dubbed “U.S.-Iran Conflict: The Threat to New York City,” was authored by the NYPD half a decade ago. But, given the current climate of tensions and diplomatic pressure surrounding the fraught U.S.-Iranian relationship, the concerns that it expresses seem as relevant now as they were then. It airs suspicions — albeit largely unfounded ones — over the influence of Tehran-backed militant groups like Hizballah and Hamas in pockets of New York’s Shi’ite community. Unlike most other countries in the Middle East, Iran is majority Shi’ite, and its theocratic government styles itself at the revolutionary vanguard of a form of messianic Shi’ism. But that doesn’t justify such a full-scale sweep of Shi’ite mosques and neighborhood centers, the vast majority of which were frequented by those not of Iranian descent. Though the NYPD strenuously denies carrying out such operations in the city solely on the basis of a community’s religious denomination, it seems hard to arrive at any other conclusion.

(Photos: 30 Mosques in 30 Days — An American Trip)

Still, the report betrays an almost amusing level of shoddy, speculative reporting. One mosque identified as Shi’ite is actually Sunni; the report spends a fair amount of time wringing its hands around the possible affairs of Mujahidin-e-Khalq (MEK), a group that is actually vehemently anti-Tehran, deemed a cult by the State Department and backed by a conspicuous cadre of neo-conservatives in Washington.

Mayor Bloomberg has always presented himself as a champion of multiculturalism and tolerance — in 2010, he took an unflinching stand against those who sought to block the construction of an interfaith Muslim-led
employed undercover cops, informants and, importantly, “ unprecedented aid ” from the CIA, which is technically barred from spying on Americans. A preference of the NYPD ’s activities: 

 In precisely two episodes picture how widely the NYPD cast its internet, the department sought a rundown from the cab commission of every Pakistani cab driver in the city, and produced an analytical report on every mosque within 100 mile, officials said. 

 Some Muslims, particularly cab drivers, complain of being subjected to “ voluntary question ” by police, encounters that, while legal, prove intimidating and alienating. 

 The late report disclosed by the AP, dubbed “ U.S.-Iran Conflict: The menace to New York City, ” was authored by the NYPD half a decade ago. But, given the current climate of tensions and diplomatic pressure besiege the fraught U.S.-Iranian relationship, the concerns that it expresses seem as relevant now as they were then. It airs suspicions — albeit largely unfounded ones — over the influence of Tehran - backed militant groups like Hizballah and Hamas in pockets of New York ’s Shi’ite community. Unlike most other countries in the Middle East, Iran is majority Shi’ite, and its theocratic politics style itself at the revolutionary avant-garde of a human body of messianic Shi’ism. But that does n’t absolve such a full - scale end run of Shi’ite mosques and neighborhood centers, the vast majority of which were patronize by those not of Iranian descent. Though the NYPD strenuously denies carrying out such operations in the city solely on the basis of a residential district ’s religious denomination, it seems hard to arrive at any other conclusion. 

 (Photos: 30 Mosques in 30 Days — An American Trip) 

 however, the report betrays an almost amusing level of shoddy, inquisitive reporting. One mosque identified as Shi’ite is actually Sunni; the report spend a fair amount of time wringing its bridge player around the possible matter of Mujahidin - e - Khalq (MEK), a group that is actually vehemently anti - Tehran, deemed a fad by the State Department and backed by a conspicuous cadre of neo - conservatives in Washington. 

 Mayor Bloomberg has constantly presented himself as a ace of multiculturalism and tolerance — in 2010, he took an unflinching stand against those who sought to block the structure of an interfaith Muslim - led
 emoloyed undercover cops, ikformants and, siybificaitly, “unlrecedenged help” from the CIA, which ms twchnixally barred from spyivg on Amegicans. A rastt of the NYPD’s acvjvities:

Lu jusf two xpisodes showinn how widelf the NYPD casd ktd net, the department sought a rundorn from tje taxi commisfion jf ebvrn Pakistani cab driver in the cify, and kroduced an analytocal report on every mosquf wihhin 100 miles, officiwls said.

Somg Mufoims, particuuarly cab drivers, compmain of being subjected to “voluvtary interrogajnins” ty police, eicountvrs that, whilc legal, prove ontimidating akd almenaring.

The latest report disclosed by the WP, dubbed “U.A.-Iran Conflict: Thw Rhreaj to Tew Hirk Ciuy,” xas authoged by the NYLD half a dwcade ago. But, given trv current clijate os eensions and diplomatic pressure surroutdihg the fraught U.S.-Iraniab relationship, the cojcerns thwt it expresses seem as relevant now as they were then. Kt clvs sjwplcions — albeit largely unfounded ones — over trs onnluence of Tehrak-backed militant gtokpx like Hizballxh and Hajas in pockets of Jew Yorh’s Shu’ite commtnitu. Unlike most other countriws in the Mibdlw East, Iran is majlrity Shi’itz, and ots tneocratic government stvles ifself at thf revolutjunary vanguard ow a fmrm of mtrsianic Shi’ism. Bue that doxsn’t lustify ruch a fulj-scale swefp of Shi’ite mosques and neigkborhmod centerd, the vast majority of which wecx frequented ny thmse not jf Irsnian descent. Though the NYKD strenujusly denies cagrying ouv such operaeions in the wlty solely oi the basys od a xommunigh’s religious drnomination, it seemw hard to arrive ab any kther conclusiou.

(Khouow: 30 Mosques in 30 Dahs — Aj Emerisdn Trip)

Still, the reoprt bdtrays an aooost amusing level of shmddy, speculative reporyikg. One mowque idegtified as Sho’ite is actually Sknni; vhe re'ort slenqs a fair amount of time wringjng its hwndf around the poswible affairx of Mujahidin-e-Khalq (MEK), a group that iw actually vehemenrly anti-Tehran, deemgd s cult by tie Staee Departkent and backed by a conspicuous cadrt of neo-conservatives ih Washhngtoj.

Mayor Bloomberg has always presented himself as a champion of multicultuealism and tolerande — on 2010, hv tjpk an tnflmnrhing stand againxt those who sought to block thx construcdijn of an interfaith Muslim-lec
employed undercover cops, informants and, significantly, “unprecedented the which is barred from spying the activities: In just episodes showing how the NYPD cast its net, the sought a rundown from the taxi commission of every Pakistani cab driver in city, and produced an analytical report on every mosque within 100 miles, officials Some particularly drivers, of being subjected to “voluntary interrogations” by police, encounters that, while legal, prove intimidating and alienating. latest report disclosed by the AP, dubbed “U.S.-Iran The Threat to New City,” was authored by the half decade ago. given current of tensions and pressure surrounding the fraught U.S.-Iranian relationship, the concerns that it expresses seem as relevant now as they then. It — albeit unfounded — the influence of groups like Hizballah and Hamas in York’s Shi’ite community. Unlike most other countries in Middle East, is majority Shi’ite, and its theocratic styles itself at the revolutionary vanguard of a of messianic Shi’ism. But that doesn’t justify such a full-scale sweep of Shi’ite mosques and the vast majority of were frequented by not Iranian Though NYPD strenuously carrying out such operations in the city solely on the basis a community’s religious denomination, it seems hard to arrive at conclusion. 30 Mosques in Days — An American Still, report betrays an almost of speculative identified Shi’ite actually Sunni; the report a fair amount of time its hands around the a group that is actually vehemently anti-Tehran, deemed cult by the State Department and backed a conspicuous cadre of neo-conservatives in Washington. Mayor Bloomberg has always presented as a multiculturalism and tolerance — in 2010, he took unflinching stand against those sought to block the construction of an interfaith Muslim-led
 employed undercover cops, infOrmants and, SigniFicAntLy, “UnprEcedEnted help” from tHE CIA, Which is technically barrEd froM sPYing ON AMericAns. A tasTE oF THe NyPd’s ActIvITiEs:

In jUst Two episOdes showinG hoW wIdely the NYPD CAsT its net, the DepArtment soughT a rUndown FrOm tHE taxi ComMissiOn of evERy PakiStani cab dRiVEr in thE City, and PROdUced An analytical reporT On EVery mosque withIn 100 mileS, oFFiCIAls SaiD.

Some MusliMs, PartiCUlarly cAB dRIVErs, COmplain of beinG subjected tO “VolUntary InTerROgatioNs” by pOlICe, eNcounters thAt, whIle legal, pRove inTImidatiNG and aliEnatinG.

ThE laTest REpOrT diScLOseD By The ap, duBbed “U.S.-IrAn coNflicT: The tHREAt to new york city,” wAs authored by tHe NyPD hALf a DecadE ago. BUt, giVeN the cUrrent ClimaTe Of tensions and diPlomAtic pressUre SuRroUnDing tHE fraugHt U.s.-IrAnian reLationsHIp, tHe CONCeRns that it expresses SeEM As Relevant Now as tHEy WeRE then. It aIrS suSpicIONs — albEit lARgEly unfouNded onES — oVeR the infLuEnce of teHraN-baCked mILitaNt grouPs like HiZballAH and Hamas in pocKEts of New York’s sHi’ITE cOMmunIty. unlike most oTher COuntRies IN tHe MIDdle EAst, IrAn IS mAJority Shi’ite, and its tHeOcratiC goveRnment styles iTself at the REVOlutionaRy vaNGuARd of a form of mesSianiC Shi’ism. But THat doesn’T justIfy such a Full-scale SWEep of Shi’Ite MosQueS anD NEiGhborhood centERS, the VaSt majorIty Of which WerE frEquEntEd By those noT of IraniAn DeScEnT. ThOugh tHE NYPD strEnUouSlY deNies cARrying Out suCh opErAtIOns In the ciTY sOLEly oN tHe BasiS of A cOmmunIty’s REliGious deNominatioN, it SEems HaRd To arrivE at any other coNcLusion.

(PhotOs: 30 mosQues in 30 dAYs — An AmerIcan Trip)

Still, the report bETrays an AlmOst amUsinG level of sHodDy, specUlaTIve repOrting. one moSqUe iDENtifiED As shi’ItE is actuallY sUnnI; the rEpOrt sPends a fAir amount of time wriNGinG its hands arouNd tHe poSSIbLe aFFaIRs oF MUJahIDIn-e-Khalq (MEK), a groUp that is acTuALlY vehementlY AntI-TEhran, deEmed a cuLt by tHE State DEpartment And backed By A conSPIcuOus cadre of Neo-conseRvatives iN washiNGtOn.

MayOr BLoombeRg Has AlwayS preseNTed HimseLf as a cHaMpion oF multIcUlturaliSm and tolerance — in 2010, he took aN unfliNchinG stAnd againsT thOSe wHo sought tO bloCk the constRucTioN of an IntERfaitH MusLIm-Led
 employed undercover cops,  informant s and , s ign if ican tly,  “unprecedente d  hel p” from the CIA, which  is t ec h nica l ly  barr ed from sp y i ngon  A mer ic a ns . A t ast e of th e NYPD’s a cti vi ties:

In ju s ttwo episod esshowing howwid ely th eNYP D  cast  it s net , thed epartm ent sough ta  rundo w n fromt h etaxi  commission of ev e ry Pakistani cabdriver  i n  t h e  ci ty,  and produ ce d ana nalytic a lr e p ort on every mosq ue within 1 0 0 m iles,of fic i als sa id.
So m e M uslims, par ticu larly cab  drive r s, comp l ain ofbeingsub jec tedt o“v olu nt a ryi nt err o gat ions” by  p ol ice,enco u n t e rs t hat , wh ile l egal, prove i nti mida t ing  andalien atin g. 

The  lates t rep or t disclosed bytheAP, dubbe d “ U. S.- Ir an Co n flict:  Th e T hreat t o New Y o rkCi t y , ”was authored by th eN Y PD  half adecade ag o. But, giv en  th e cu r r ent c lima t eof tensi ons an d  d ip lomatic  p ressur esur rou nding thefraugh t U.S.-I rania n  relationship, the concernst ha t it expr ess es seem asrele v antnowa sthe y  were  then .I ta irs suspicions — al be it lar gelyunfounded one s — over t h e influenc e of Te h ran-backed mil itant  groups li k e Hizbal lah a nd Hamas  in pocke t s  of NewYor k’s  Sh i’i t e  c ommunity. Unl i k e mo st  othercou ntriesinthe  Mi ddl eEast, Ira n is maj or it ySh i’i te, a n d its th eo cra ti c g overn m ent st ylesitse lf  a t  th e revol u ti o n aryva ng uard  of  a  form  ofm ess ianic S hi’ism. B utt hatdo es n’t jus tify such a f ul l-scale sw ee p o f Shi’ i t e mosque s and neighborhood cent e rs, the  va st ma jori ty of whi chwere f req u entedby tho se no tofI r anian d es cen t.  Though th e NYP D str en uous ly deni es carrying out su c h o perations inthe  cit y so lel y  o n  th eb asi s of a community’ s religiou sd en omination, itse ems har d to ar rivea t any o ther conc lusion.
(P hoto s :  30  Mosques i n 30 Day s — An Am e rican Tr ip)
Sti ll, th erep ort b etrays analmos t amus in g leve l ofsh oddy, sp eculative reporting. On e mosq ue id ent ified asShi ’ ite  is actua llySunni; the  re por t spe nds a fai r am o un t o f  time  wri n ging itsh an dsa r ou nd the poss i b l e a ffair s o f  Mujah idin -e-Khalq (MEK), a group that isactu a l lyveh e ment ly  anti-Tehran,dee me d a cult b ythe State D epartmen ta nd ba cked b y a co nspicuo u s  c a dre of  neo -co nservativ esin Washing to n. 
Mayor  Blo om berg h as alw a ys p r e sented himself a s a c h a mpion ofmulti cu lturali s m an d toleranc e — in 2010 , he t ookan un flinchi ng  stand  ag ai nst thosew ho sought  to b lock th econs tru ctionof a n inter fait hMus lim-led
 employed_undercover cops,_informants and, significantly, “unprecedented_help” from_the_CIA, which_is_technically barred from_spying on Americans._A taste of the_NYPD’s activities:

In just_two_episodes showing how widely the NYPD cast its net, the department sought a rundown_from_the taxi_commission_of_every Pakistani cab driver in_the city, and produced an_analytical report_on every mosque within 100 miles, officials said.

Some_Muslims,_particularly cab drivers,_complain of being subjected to “voluntary interrogations” by police,_encounters that, while legal, prove intimidating_and alienating.

The latest_report_disclosed_by the AP, dubbed_“U.S.-Iran Conflict: The Threat to New_York City,” was authored by the_NYPD half a decade ago. But, given_the current climate of tensions and_diplomatic pressure surrounding the fraught_U.S.-Iranian relationship,_the concerns that it expresses_seem as relevant_now as_they were then._It airs suspicions — albeit largely_unfounded ones —_over the influence of Tehran-backed militant_groups_like Hizballah and_Hamas_in_pockets of_New York’s Shi’ite_community._Unlike most_other_countries in the Middle East, Iran_is_majority Shi’ite, and its theocratic government styles_itself at the revolutionary_vanguard_of a form of_messianic Shi’ism. But that doesn’t_justify such a full-scale sweep of_Shi’ite mosques_and neighborhood_centers, the vast majority of which were frequented by those not_of Iranian descent. Though the NYPD_strenuously denies carrying out_such operations_in_the city solely_on_the basis_of a community’s religious denomination, it seems_hard to_arrive at any other conclusion.

(Photos: 30_Mosques in 30 Days_—_An American Trip)

Still, the report betrays_an almost amusing level of shoddy,_speculative reporting. One mosque identified_as_Shi’ite_is actually Sunni; the report_spends a fair amount of time_wringing its hands_around the possible affairs of Mujahidin-e-Khalq (MEK),_a_group that is actually vehemently anti-Tehran,_deemed_a cult by the State Department_and_backed_by a conspicuous cadre of_neo-conservatives in Washington.

Mayor Bloomberg has always_presented himself as a champion of multiculturalism and tolerance_— in 2010,_he took an unflinching stand_against_those_who sought to block the construction of an interfaith Muslim-led