Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Mpls. FBI head to break Ramadan fast with Somali elders

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

St. Paul, Minn. — The head of the Minneapolis FBI division will share an iftar, or sunset meal, Wednesday with a group of Somali-American elders in Minneapolis. Special Agent in Charge Ralph Boelter will join community members as they break their daily fast for the Islamic month of Ramadan. The FBI has been trying to improve its outreach efforts with the Somali community ever since it began investigating the departures of about 20 young Minnesotan men, who allegedly went to Somalia to fight with a terrorist group. Abdirizak Bihi is organizing tonight's dinner. Bihi's nephew traveled to Somalia in 2008, and is believed to have been killed there.He says he has learned to be patient as the long-running investigation continues."It's frustrating sometimes," Bihi said. "It's human nature to get answers right away. But we are more settled in the idea that ... the investigation will take longer than we thought." Bihi said he also wants the mainstream community to know that the vast majority Somali-Americans oppose extremism. Source: MPR

No comments:

Post a Comment