Judge rules NYPD settlement on Muslim surveillance doesn't go far enough

An NYPD car.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

A federal judge has rejected New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's proposal to appoint a civilian monitor for the New York Police Department's counter-terrorism units, saying it doesn't go far enough.

The proposal was part of a lawsuit settlement rejected by U.S. District Judge Charles S. Haight Jr. on Tuesday; the suit was filed after it came to light in 2011 that the NYPD, assisted by the CIA and undercover informants, conducted surveillance of Muslims in New York and New Jersey mosques, religious bookstores, and other locations. The plaintiffs said their rights were violated, and in January, a settlement was reached, pending approval from a judge. Under de Blasio's proposal, the monitor would report violations to the police commissioner and the mayor would have the power to cut the position after five years. The judge said the monitor should file quarterly reports to the court.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.