However, the most recent case brought to the public attention is that of Najibullah Zazi. Zazi, who was arrested on September 19, 2009, for his involvement in a New York City terror plot. Details surrounding the plot continue to remain sealed by prosecutors, but a timeline of events places Zazi as a more mainstream radical jihadist subscribing to Al-Qaida's theology.
This case puts all traditional profiling into play – a 24-year old Afghan national who became a legal resident in the U.S. after immigrating in 1999. Zazi got married in 2006 to his cousin, who resides in Pakistan. He then reportedly began traveling to visit her and their two children annually. It was in the years following his visits where his customers at his coffee stand in New York noticed a change. He was said to have "grown a beard, wore traditional Islamic clothing, and was less friendly to his customers" (Gruen). A rather noticeable change from a boy who as a child enjoyed wearing stylish clothes and playing video games. The question remains where did Zazi embrace violent jihadist tactics as part of his beliefs – was it during his travels to Pakistan or could it have occurred at his home mosque in Flushing, New York? The mosque he and his family attended since immigrating to the U.S., Masjid Hazrat Abu Bakr, reportedly was split on support for the Taliban and Al-Qaida after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The split reportedly pushed the imam out at the time, who disapproved of the violence (Gruen).
It did not take long after Zazi's arrest, despite the evidence the government had, for Muslim groups to decry the police's tactics. Law enforcement officials in the days following Zazi's initial arrest were not sure as to how many more suspects there were and feared that the plot may still be in motion. Reportedly, Muslims in the Flushing, New York neighborhood that Zazi visited were subject to intensified questioning by police patrols on the ground. Immediately their fears of racial profiling were broadcast via blogs and media outlets.
The question remains how much did his ethnicity and religion play in the investigation process of Najibullah Zazi? According to a report, Zazi had contact with members of Al-Qaida's leadership overseas, which came to the attention of the Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA then requested the Federal Bureau of Investigation to assume a domestic investigation.
The Zazi case proves a very important characteristic about profiling: that it can be a valuable tool to affirm suspicions about an individual. When partnered properly with various pieces of intelligence, profiling is a very useful tool for law enforcement in the fight to help identify those who seek to perpetrate violent acts. There is no doubt that had there been a profile before the 9/11 hijackers, we could have probably saved thousands of lives. By recognizing who was receiving training in the Al-Qaida camps of Sudan and Afghanistan during the 1990s, law enforcement would have been more vigilant to potential warning signs and red flags. Targeting an individual for their race or beliefs is wrong and counterproductive to the mission of this war. Community cooperation is essential, and risking the alienation of Muslims or other groups only hinders investigations. Every investigation should pursue what will be accepted in a court of law. Profiling is not a form of evidence that will prosecute an individual, however it assists law enforcement in the identification of security risks and how best to approach them.
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