Arab college student in Texas says law officers were `respectful' during interview

By JIM VERTUNO
Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN, Texas – It was after dark when the knock came. The three men at the door said they were police and wanted to question Mohamed Adlouni, a 22-year-old Arab studying at the University of Texas.

The tall man did all the talking.

"Do you know any plans for terrorism? Do you know anyone who can make anthrax? Have you ever been to a terrorist training camp?" the man asked.

"No," Adlouni said.

Fifteen minutes later it was all over. The police were gone and Adlouni was back to studying for final exams.

"It was like they were asking me if I had ever gone to soccer camp," the college student said. "I wasn't offended."

Adlouni figures he was one of the 5,000 young foreigners – mostly Middle Easterners – the Justice Department wants to interview in connection with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Adlouni is in the United States on a student visa, studying for a bachelor's degree in economics. His father is Lebanese and his mother Egyptian. The family lived in Saudi Arabia for years while his father worked for an oil company. He is Muslim.

Adlouni said he knew authorities were looking for him when neighbors said three men were seen knocking on his apartment door and peering into the windows. One, Crayton McGee, an investigator with the special crimes service of the Texas Department of Public Safety, left his business card.

Adlouni said he called McGee and left a message agreeing to meet with them "so they don't think I'm avoiding them."

Two days later, at 6:45 p.m. on Dec. 5, McGee and two other men showed up unannounced at Adlouni's girlfriend's apartment.

Only McGee identified himself, Adlouni said. They were invited inside, where the two other men sat at the dining table. Adlouni sat on the couch. McGee continued to stand and asked all the questions.

"Have you ever visited Afghanistan? Do you know anyone capable or willing to carry out an attack?" McGee asked. Adlouni said he answered no to all the questions, even as he considered many of them to be silly.

"If you were a terrorist, would you say yes to any of them?" Adlouni said afterward.

Adlouni said two questions bothered him: "How do you think terrorism can be prevented in the future? Why do you think the U.S. was targeted?"

He believes those questions were designed to probe his political beliefs.

"I said maybe the U.S. should change its immigration policy," Adlouni said. "I wanted to stay simple. You don't want to say too much." But, he added, "I have nothing to hide."

Adlouni said he was comfortable during questioning and called the investigators "respectful."

Richard Fawal, president of the Austin chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, agreed with Adlouni that the last questions should not be asked. "What they're looking for is something to say, `Are you somebody we should be keeping an eye on?"' Fawal said.

Fawal also said he was troubled by the unannounced interview, saying the practice makes it difficult for people who do not know their rights to arrange to have a lawyer.

McGee did not return a message left at his office. Department of Public Safety spokesman Tom Vinger would not comment on Adlouni's interview. Austin police spokesman Paul Flaningan said he believes an Austin officer was present during Adlouni's questioning.

Justice Department spokeswoman Jill Stillman would not comment on the student's questioning, but said: "If somebody feels they want a lawyer, that's their right. They're not suspects, they're just people we want to talk to. They're not meant to be a custodial-type situation."

Adlouni attended American schools in Saudi Arabia before going to prep school outside Philadelphia. Dressed in jeans and a sweater during a recent interview, he speaks impeccable English. Friends call him "Mo."

He said he considers himself largely apathetic to the turmoil in the Middle East, including the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

He said he wants to work in the United States and has considered applying for citizenship. "I didn't come here and my father didn't spend all that money on my education just to leave," Adlouni said.

As for the interview, Adlouni said: "As long as you know you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about."

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On the Net:

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee: www.adc.org

U.S. Justice Department: www.doj.gov

APNP-12-11-01 1341CST