Ouster Sought Of Official In Imam Case

Mayor Bloomberg is being asked to dismiss from the city's Commission on Human Rights the lawyer involved in a lawsuit that could discourage ordinary citizens from reporting what they believe to be suspicious activity.

In a letter sent to Mr. Bloomberg on Monday, an assemblyman of Queens, Rory Lancman, said Omar Mohammedi's position on the human rights commission undermines efforts to encourage New Yorkers to act as the eyes and ears of law enforcement.

Mr. Bloomberg made Mr. Mohammedi a commissioner for the human rights commission in 2002. As a private attorney, Mr. Mohammedi is representing a group of imams from Arizona who are suing US Airways after they were removed from a flight last November. He is also suing any passengers on the flight who alerted authorities to what they regarded as suspicious activity by the imams.

"Do you not also see the absurdity in retaining a Human Rights Commissioner who sues well meaning citizens for reporting suspicious activity?" Mr. Lancman wrote.

This was especially so, Mr. Lancman wrote, given that residents in New York frequently encounter the slogan: "If you see something, say something."

"Before they do so, I think they have a right to know that they won't be sued by their own Human Rights Commissioner, Omar Mohammedi," Mr. Lancman wrote.

Mr. Lancman said he intends to introduce legislation in Albany that would immunize from lawsuits citizens who report suspicious activity. Similar measures have been introduced in Washington, D.C.

In court filings, Mr. Mohammedi has signaled that he wants to question the passengers on the US Airways flight to determine whether their reports against the imams were made in good faith, or were motivated by prejudice. Mr. Mohammedi did not return a call for comment.

A spokesman for Mr. Bloomberg has said the mayor believes that Mr. Mohammedi, as a private attorney, has a right to represent whomever he wishes.