Washington, D.C. (August 6, 2010) – Congressman Keith Ellison (DFL-Minneapolis), last week commended the U.S. Justice Department in response to its indictment of 14 people accused of aiding the Somali terrorist group, al-Shabaab.
I commend the Justice Department for their efforts to protect the American people by investigating those who provide material support to al-Shabaab. This is a shining example of the value of adhering to the Constitution and due process.
Further, this indictment shows the effectiveness of cooperation between law enforcement and the Muslim-American and Somali-American communities.
As Attorney General Holder said, ‘Members of the American Muslim community have been – and continue to be – strong partners in fighting this emerging threat. They have regularly denounced terrorist acts and those who carry them out. They have provided critical assistance to law enforcement in helping to disrupt terrorist plots and combat radicalization. There needs to be more recognition of these efforts and of the losses suffered in the Muslim community here and around the world. Many of the victims of terror attacks by al-Shabaab, al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and other terrorist groups are innocent Muslims.’
I am proud to represent one of the largest communities of Somali-Americans in the country. They are our neighbors, our teachers, our colleagues, and our friends. They are part of the fabric of the great state of Minnesota.
Al-Shabaab makes life unlivable in Somalia, Uganda and Kenya, and it erodes the prospects for peace in the region. Somalia cannot escape its painful past through more violence.
The people of Somalia deserve peace and security. We must commit ourselves to reconciliation, development, and peace, for the people of Somalia.
