Imam Luqman Ameen Abdullah of Detroit, Mich., was known in his community as a peaceful man. 

While he was a fiery preacher with a long history in American religious life, he was not known for violence, nor was he accused of violence prior to his killing by federal agents. 

Yet, the FBI in October 2009 accused him of shooting their dog in a “shootout” – a claim that has been called into question by an autopsy report issued in February 2010 indicating the imam was found with his hands bound and shot 20 times, including once in the back. 

As it is difficult for anyone to participate in a “shootout” with hands bound, it is also unlikely he was bound after being shot 20 times. Plainly, the FBI’s explanation of the event makes no sense, and so far, we have not heard of anyone being arrested or disciplined for this act of senseless violence. 

We welcome the Justice Department’s “independent” investigation. We also welcome the demands of House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers for a full and complete inquiry into the matter with the results made public. 

Any investigation must address the root of the problem – the FBI’s aggressive use of criminal agent provocateurs in places of worship. It was because of an agent provocateur on FBI payroll that a religious leader is now dead. He was targeted in a place of worship because of his religion. 

This should concern everyone with an interest in the First Amendment.  

For the investigation to have any meaning, it cannot be relegated to a simple case of excessive force. Indeed, as it appears, the FBI should have never conducted the raid in the first place. 

American courts have long recognized the use of “confidential informants” as a vital part of law enforcement. We agree with their use for the purpose of disrupting criminal or terrorist enterprises; however, the use of this term in the discussion of the FBI’s tactics is misleading.

The FBI has never shown any interest in placing informants to inform regarding sermons, classes, youth and family programs, or summer children’s camps that are a staple of life for mosques. 

They have, however, used persons to prey on the weak, the ill and the young in service of plots created entirely by the federal agency. 

The FBI’s own representatives throughout the country have previously been known to create their own “cells,” act as representatives of “Al-Qaeda,” and provide cash, medical treatment and weapons to those foolish or desperate enough to believe them. 

The more recent Detroit case is distinguished in that it involves criminal (though non-violent) activity unconnected with terrorism; it is similar in that the driving force from start to finish was the FBI. This policy is itself designed to achieve purposes apart from actually enforcing America’s laws, purposes that may include creating an environment of fear and suspicion within the Muslim community. 

The policy not only violates the First Amendment, which guarantees against the federal government’s interference with the free exercise of religion, but it also has the risk of unintended consequences, including damage to America’s national security as Muslims will begin to not cooperate with an agency that has been  obviously hostile to them.   

The secret police organizations of totalitarian regimes have routinely used agent provocateurs to achieve their own nefarious ends. While at present the FBI is using them aggressively against Muslim communities, Americans should not be satisfied that this campaign will simply end there. 

Nor should Americans be satisfied that FBI violence against an imam is an isolated incident.

Any investigation should also be followed by action by Congress to protect freedom of religion by unequivocally prohibiting the agency from making up criminal and terrorist plots from whole cloth. 

Not only is this a waste of taxpayer dollars, it is antithetical to American values and, sadly, in the case of Imam Luqman, caused  the death of a religious leader who benefited his community.

Rep. John Conyers, in a recent press release, said, “People want to believe that the Executive Branch can conduct an impartial review in a case like this, but, unfortunately, trust is in short supply right now. The Department of Justice can do a lot of good if it handles this matter in a credible and transparent way. If they fall short, then it will be left to Congress to ensure that justice is done.”

Unfortunately, it is Congress that has fallen short in regulating the FBI, which has been out of control. Congress must recognize this is not merely a case of excessive force, but rather part of a counterproductive national campaign against the American Muslim community that Congress never authorized and, as of yet, has done nothing to stop. 

"Fidelity, Integrity, Bravery" is the FBI’s motto. It is up to Congress to force them to live up to those words.