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A comment on I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put me on the no fly list. Parent comment

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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by boomboomsubban on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:15PM (#26716115)
>With so many Muslims why did they choose him?

It's their job to pick someone, you can't assume guilt because he was chosen.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by mr-wendel on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:30PM (#26716317)
Additionally, if you're not not assuming guilt then there is one thing you can assume: leverage.

He's got a lot to lose which the article makes painfully clear:

- time with family

- personal reputation

- fulfilling personal/religion goals

- ... and a lot more

Personally, I think it enlightening to consider the opposite scenario: what about those on the fringe with nothing to lose? The FBI has a life changing program for you! They'll give you a sense of purpose, a feeling like you're part of something, and all the support you need to ... become the star of the next foiled terrorist plot.

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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by kelnos on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @04:07PM (#26716743)
Exactly. And in this guy's case, he also has a wife who is not a US citizen, so they can additionally threaten him with messing with her immigration status.

Leverage takes many forms, and need not have anything to do with being guilty of a crime.

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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by nashashmi on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:28PM (#26716288)
Often it is a guy who has little time , loved ones, and is both disconnected with the community and weak jurisprudentially IOW doesn’t know how to defend himself.
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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by danaliv on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:16PM (#26716126)
> Is this the case of someone guilty getting 25 years in jail for not wanting to snitch?

This is an absolutely disgusting suggestion.

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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by onetimemanytime on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:20PM (#26716169)
well, it is possible that someone may have different feelings about the USA, despite living here, no?
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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by danaliv on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:22PM (#26716210)
Do you really not get how what you're saying is 180° from principles of due process, equal protection, and freedom of speech?
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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by Judgmentality on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:39PM (#26716430)
I understand that as a US citizen I have more freedoms than most people throughout history, but the idea that it's really free for everyone is a little idyllic. Obviously this is a hyperbolic example and is a tiny fraction of the populace, but you can't possibly talk about due process and reconcile that with Guantanamo Bay. There are many more examples to fill spaces in the spectrum, that's just meant to be a single point to prove it's not really equal for everyone.
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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by danaliv on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:42PM (#26716456)
I'm with you on all of that, but that's not what the person I'm replying to is saying. They're saying that the subject of the article might be a bad guy so he probably deserves what's happening to him.
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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by onetimemanytime on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @04:03PM (#26716702)
NOT at all. I'm just willing to believe that some Russian, Chines, "Muslims" or [insert anything here] are willing to do harm to our system. I am EXTREMELY happy that ACLU took the case so the truth has a chance to come out
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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by hoophoop on Thursday April 08, 2021 @07:27AM (#26737474)
> I understand that as a US citizen I have more freedoms than most people throughout history

Maybe on paper or as long as you are lucky.

In most EU countries such stories of police abuse are way, way less common.

Including things like unwarranted searches, seizing money with no good reason, swatting, aggressive questioning.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by cool_dude85 on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:12PM (#26716072)
>Is this the case of someone guilty getting 25 years in jail for not wanting to snitch?

Maybe you can let us know about the facts you have at hand to make claims like these.

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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by onetimemanytime on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:20PM (#26716176)
Court case will answer that.
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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by Quinner on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:34PM (#26716373)
Except it won't, because the government decided to skip due process.
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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by techrat on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:32PM (#26716352)
Courts convict innocent people all the time.
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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by 8fGTBjZxBcHq on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:12PM (#26716068)
Wait you think people in jails should just not exist? Do you want to uh elaborate on that a little?

EDIT: yes I got it thank you to everyone who explained. I'm not a native english speaker and misunderstood the phrasing.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by haswell on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:17PM (#26716132)
I believe they were trying to say: "No fly lists should be reserved for people who are in jail ... and therefore the no fly list should not exist (since the people who shouldn't fly can't fly because they're in jail)".

But their statement was open to misinterpretation, and it's possible that I might be the misinterpreter.

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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by elliekelly on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:13PM (#26716095)
I'm not the person you're replying to but I read their comment as saying the No-Fly List shouldn't exist. As in, if someone is deserving of government restrictions on their movement then they should be in prison, otherwise they should be permitted to move freely.
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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by jrochkind1 on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @06:37PM (#26718268)
I do think prisons should not exist, although I'm not sure that's what was being said originally.

Here's an audio interview with Ruth Wilson Gilmore elaborating. https://theintercept.com/2020/06/10/ruth-wilson-gilmore-make...

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by onetimemanytime on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:18PM (#26716154)
No, I said /meant the No-Fly list should not exist, at least of US persons. If you are too dangerous to fly, you should be either in jail or mental hospital.
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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by 8fGTBjZxBcHq on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:21PM (#26716193)
Ohhh I see ok. Thanks for explaining that makes a lot more sense.
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Re:I refused to become an FBI informant, the government put ... by abanayev on Tuesday April 06, 2021 @03:31PM (#26716326)
Definitely not the obvious interpretation. Parallel structure of “should ... ie should ...” strongly suggests that the poster meant people in jail should not exist
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