“Even biased sources sometimes can produce relevant information, but it shouldn’t be based on any decisions or any memorandum on those sources,” Dershowitz said. “And it shouldn’t be looking into people based on their religious affiliation … remember, there are Catholics who are radicals and law violators just like there are Jews and Protestants and Muslims who are.”
“The focus ought to be on those individuals who have misused their faith for violent purposes, but ought not to be intrusions into church services or religious life. … The line is a difficult one because you can’t use your religion — we know that from Muslim experienced — as an excuse for violence, and it doesn’t matter what your religion is.
“The FBI has to be a lot more sensitive about not using a person religious belief in and of itself as a basis for any investigation.”
[Go after lawbreaking, Dershowitz advises, not theology and ideology. The FBI seems to have a problem making that distinction — or at least its executives do. — Ed]
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