OPINION | This article contains the author's opinion.
An Oklahoma woman, Rolla Abdeljawad, claims FBI agents visited her home and said Facebook had provided screenshots of her social media posts expressing frustration over the Israel-Hamas conflict and referring to Israel as “Israhell.”
A video shows agents saying the FBI questions people daily about their posts to keep everyone safe.
“Facebook gave us a couple of screenshots of your account,” one agent said.
Abdeljawad refused to speak with them without a lawyer and asked them to show badges on camera, which they declined. While the FBI can access public posts, one post warned the Muslim community of government monitoring.
The FBI denied violating rights, saying it acts with valid purpose.
Abdeljawad said, “So we no longer live in a free country, and we can’t say what we want?”
“No, we totally do,” another agent said. “That’s why we’re not here to arrest you or anything. We do this every day, all day long. It’s just an effort to keep everybody safe and make sure nobody has any ill will.”
Abdeljawad said, “All I’ve done is exercise my right as an American citizen on a public social media platform with my personal opinions.”
“Israhelli terrorist filth,” Abdeljawad wrote. “They think Ramadan is a weakness for Muslims not, realizing Ramadan is the strength. #FreePalestine May Allah destroy every single despicable zionist, their supporters and backers. Ameen.”
“Don’t fall for their games. Our community is being watched & they are just waiting for any reason to round us up,” Abdeljawad wrote. “If you’re Muslim and/or pro-pal consider all your media accounts, Google searches, mail, messenger, local mosques & political events monitored. #NYC #usa #PoliceState #FreePalestine.”
“Every day, the FBI engages with members of the public in furtherance of our mission, which is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States,” an FBI statement read. “We can never open an investigation based solely on First Amendment protected activity. The FBI is committed to ensuring our activities are conducted with a valid law enforcement or national security purpose, and uphold the constitutional rights of all Americans.”
Abdeljawad’s lawyer believes it was a “fishing expedition” rather than Facebook providing screenshots.
He advised she made right choices to refuse entry and record but should not have spoken outside.
“Rather, it seems like a fishing expedition,” Abdeljawad wrote. “I do not fear them. My only concern as, I told the cop is that, someone in my state will do something or that they would and then use my posts in a malicious attempt to ‘smear’ me. Just *remember, I am a Muslim, an obligated protector of creation. I enjoin what is good and forbid what is wrong.”