Meeting Held Between FBI And Muslims

Friday, March 16th 2007, 11:44 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Law officers have met with Muslim leaders in Oklahoma in an effort to improve understanding and limit problems in what both sides say can be a tense relationship.

FBI agents, police chiefs and officers, mosque leaders and members of the Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council met privately at the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Ward says counter-terrorism investigations routinely produce leads involving the Muslim community. He says those leads must be worked aggressively but there also must be a balance to ensure Muslims are treated fairly.

Muslim officials say one example is police need to know if a Muslim woman delays answering her door it may be because she is putting on a head covering.

Follow-up meetings are being planned.