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Waqas Mirza

waqasahmi

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Projects See all

CVE Watch

The programs being designed and implemented across the country under the auspices of Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) have drawn fire from Muslim community members and civil rights activists. They are criticized for unfairly targeting Muslims, being used for surveillance under the pretext of community outreach, and being based on an unfounded theory of radicalization. Despite the heavy criticism CVE has been subjected to, there remain lingering questions about precisely which communities are targeted, what research (and which experts) agencies are relying on for their approaches, how (or if) government agencies are planning to safeguard civil liberties, which community leaders are being supported and for what reasons, etc. By making the relevant government documents public, we hope to help answer some of these questions.

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Latest Articles See all

National Counterterrorism Center handbook lists "dissatisfaction with job" as a potential sign of extremism

National Counterterrorism Center handbook lists “dissatisfaction with job” as a potential sign of extremism

by Waqas Mirza
June 01, 2017

Countering Violent Extremism initiatives rest on the core assumption that it is possible to detect and stop violent extremists before they carry out attacks, through theories of radicalization which identify behaviors that are thought to be “indicators” or “risk factors.” This logic is the driving force behind the National Counterterrorism Center’s annual handbook for law enforcement agencies, which provides guidance for spotting these indicators - from legitimate calls to violence, to more troubling grey areas, such as “expressing frustration with employment situation.”

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FBI struggled with "messaging challenges" surrounding its controversial counterterror program for teens

FBI struggled with “messaging challenges” surrounding its controversial counterterror program for teens

by Waqas Mirza
May 08, 2017

FBI officials fretted over critical press coverage of their interactive website and online game on violent extremism aimed at high school students and attempted to assuage concerns raised by civil liberties and Muslim organizations, according to documents released through a FOIA request.

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Rules governing confidential informants remain shrouded in secrecy

Rules governing confidential informants remain shrouded in secrecy

by Waqas Mirza
April 27, 2017

FOIA requests filed last year with various federal agencies for “guidelines and policies” for the use of confidential informants returned only one completed response and several rejection, making significant public accountability regarding the practice all but impossible.

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Nebraska’s counterterror proposal doubles down on discredited science

Nebraska’s counterterror proposal doubles down on discredited science

by Waqas Mirza
April 04, 2017

Nebraska Emergency Management Agency is the latest, and possibly last, recipient of an Obama-era counterterrorism grant, which awarded the state $300 thousand towards “countering violent extremism in rural and small to mid-sized communities.” NEMA’s proposal, released through a public records request, shows the agency aims to accomplish this by relying on the same flawed, problematic psychology of its predecessors.

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UNC-Chapel Hill won a $866 thousand grant to produce counter-jihadist propaganda for Homeland Security

UNC-Chapel Hill won a $866 thousand grant to produce counter-jihadist propaganda for Homeland Security

by Waqas Mirza
March 22, 2017

In the last days of Obama’s presidency, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill won a grant worth $866,687 under the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Violent Extremism initiative to produce counter-jihadist propaganda. According to the proposal, the University will invest the money in hiring 36 undergraduate students with a background in “study of jihadist messaging strategies, video game design, and media production.”

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Latest Requests See all

Title Status Agency Jurisdiction
Massachusetts CVE Program Rejected Department of Mental Health Massachusetts
State Department Report in Response to Executive Order 13780 Awaiting Response U.S. Department of State United States of America
DHS CVE Grant Application Completed Hennepin County Sheriff Hennepin County, MN
Hubway Contract Withdrawn Traffic, Parking & Transportation Cambridge, MA
Feedback on Lisa Durden's Interview Withdrawn Essex County College New Jersey

Recently Completed Requests See all

Title Status Agency Jurisdiction
Burlington Police Chief Israel Trip Completed Burlington Police Department Burlington, MA
DHS CVE Grant Application (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) Completed University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill North Carolina
DHS CVE Grant Application (Denver Police Department) Completed Denver Police Department Denver, CO
Confidential Informants - United States Marshals Completed Department of Justice, United States Marshals United States of America
Confidential Informants Completed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives United States of America

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