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Mexico
Spies On Muslims for U.S.
By Associated Press
MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico's government is keeping tabs on the country's tiny Islamic community as part of cooperation arrangements with U.S. authorities, the federal attorney general's office says.
Officials Friday confirmed statements made the day before by Jorge Serrano, head of the attorney general's anti-terrorism investigations office. Serrano said Mexico is engaged in surveillance of the country's Muslims.
There are only about 3,000 Muslims among Mexico's 100 million people. They have not been connected with or implicated in any terrorist activity.
Serrano, who officials stressed was not speaking in his official capacity, told local reporters Thursday that Mexican authorities paid attention to the movements of such Islamic groups at the request of the U.S. government.
Diana Page, a U.S. Embassy official, said the United States works very closely with the Mexican government on fighting terrorism, but she declined to give specific information.
``We have broad cooperation with the Mexican government in many aspects of the fight against terrorism,'' she said. ``But I cannot confirm or deny specifics.''
Aureliano Pérez, who leads a 500-strong Muslim community in southern Chiapas state, said he did not feel his group was being spied upon or harassed by the government.
``We have nothing to hide, so we have nothing to fear,'' said Pérez. ``We are not at all concerned.''
Amina al-Jerrahi, a leader of Mexico's Sufi community, said her dealings with the Mexican government had ``always been extremely friendly.''
``We have never had them ask for information on us, outside of the normal paperwork,'' said Jerrahi. Sufism is a branch of Islamic mysticism that preaches moderation.
Copyright: Associated Press
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