In 2007, five men were arrested and accused of plotting to attack the Fort Dix military base near Trenton, New Jersey. Among them were the brothers Dritan, Shain and Eljvir Duka. Their case involved highly paid government informants with criminal histories, one of whom worked over the course of roughly 18 months to attempt to implicate them in a plot. Though none of the Duka brothers would ever plan any putative plot, they were ultimately all sentenced to life in prison. They remain incarcerated today.
This film by Razan Ghalayini, which includes raw surveillance footage and other video documentation that was used against the Duka brothers in court, shows the impact of the case on the Duka family.
The Intercept’s investigation into the case of the Fort Dix Five can be found here.
Such a long history of racial profiling, the FBI has, and so unexamined. Now it’s adding entrapment to its resume.
I hope this prompts a reopening of the Duka brothers’ case, as well as a long overdue discussion about profiling, agency oversight, and how personal and systemic racism intersect. It’s sad to know of history while watching the same spiral winding and rewinding in what seems to be an infinite loop.
SYNTHETIC TERROR…So sad to see this.
Lots of redditors know about this–but 99% of the country is Brainwashed to believe this bumpkus.
There are some excellent articles on this type of entrapment–but this is the first time we are actually getting to see it taking place.
So, if I say “Allahu Akbar” in a plane, I will be arrested for trying to hi-jack the plane? Blasphemy!
If you deconstruct these terrorism cases and many of the drug cases it becomes obvious that US law enforcement is off its rocker and is making a mockery out of due process and human decency. The US has burdened so many of its people and declared its own young people the enemy and set them up all over American for all sorts of reasons but often to get money or brownie points. The abuse of power should on reflection out here in the open before the world embarrass a lot of the 89 Club and the entire judicial system. They are out here in their own persons as public employees and agents of the puppet masters being worse than the Stasi making a joke of our criminal justice system. Obviously they are watching them selves use this against young people and many have been mute. One’s own government should not be acting the part of seductive Devil. The retaliation and suppression against those who complain and demand their rights and those of other’s and full protections of real due process with pro-social goals is criminal and unacceptable and it is time for the government itself on behalf of the violated and abused to bring that problem before the court and for that institution to slap them all down. That is what is actually reasonable and will bring real relief to so many families around America.
“FBI informant Omar was paid $238,000″ . . . ah muslim “terror”, the next growth industry.
I watched the video & it is my opinion that
The 3 brothers were the only innocent ones
In this horrific mockery of a fair trial.
Excellent work. This really drives home a very honest perspective. The voice overs from news shows being played after you’ve just seen the story played out from the family’s point of view really gave me quite a sickening lurch of how warped and divided people’s senses of reality are.
Here is another good example of ambitious politicians and the FBI coordinating their efforts to combat cases of “Domestic Terrorism” There are other documented cases where undercover Agents try to coerce the defendants into declaring jihad or they are on the way to Syria, Iraq, or ISIS. Along with the Supreme Court sanctioned “Prosecutor Discretion” a lot of shameful activities are admitted into a Trial that where only conclusions not real evidence. These Fort Dix three should be released because of the taint of the evidence.
So the case was built around them saying ‘Allahu Akbar’ while shooting guns which is the pretty close to the English equivalent of saying ‘oh my God’. They are guilty of an illegal gun deal but with the erroneous testimony of the informants and a jury incapable of logical thinking, this ended up being a life sentence.
This superb video is very hard to watch. How do the FBI and the U.S. Attorneys sleep at night? Two of those entrapped young men are in the hell of Supermax prison. My heart breaks for them, their father and the entire devastated family.
On behalf of my country, I am so profoundly sorry.
Mona, shows you what you low lives FBI really are.
From Sock Puppets to criminals.
Upset. Disheartened. Frustrated. Unsurprising. A plethora of emotions when reading Intercept’s investigation and watching this short doc. The majority of U.S. politicians, or for that matter any elected officials, are interested in: Power & Advancement. They will do whatever, whenever, whether legal or not, to advance THEIR (or better yet their funding base) political agenda. Politics over People is the motto. Our Criminal Justice System has systematically failed to serve people, like the Dukas, with justice. They say “Justice is blind,” it is, especially when politicians, corporations, and the affluent class are committing crimes. Justice turns a blind eye to them, because it benefits power, not people.
Obviously these people were targeted, their only crime is that they’re stupid (while being Muslim) and into guns. You can target any group of rednecks and make the same case. This is a perversion of justice but it goes without saying that if these dummies weren’t into guns, they probably wouldn’t be where they are today.
I think that’s a bit of a harsh judgement. Although maybe they should just accept the fact that owning a gun as a Muslim is stupid, sew yellow crescents on their clothes and be done with it. I think most guys, in fact most people, I know would enjoy messing around shooting targets once in a while, especially if they’re in a rural area. The illegal gun deal was stupid perhaps, but this video didn’t really give me an idea of how much they were involved in that, or whether they knew it was illegal. And I’m not sure I’d inform on my friends if I only suspected it was an illegal deal. I’d go as far as to say I’m pretty damn sure I wouldn’t but that much honesty might be a bad habit to continue. Perhaps you’ve read more about how much they knew about the gun deal though. Based on this video though, I can’t really pinpoint anything I would have done differently unless I was taking into account that I was Muslim and therefor more likely to be targeted, so I feel it’s a bit unfair to suggest their actions were stupid or rednecked.
I joined the Army 6 months after 9/11, buying into what I thought at the time was patriotism and now realize was simply irrational fear. This video makes me so sad to have served our nation.
This disgusting behavior is not the fault of the FBI, or this administration or the one before it. These organizations are subordinate to the citizens, and this is OUR fault for allowing the military and law enforcement to run rampant because of fear. Shame on us.
Shame on us all for helping things get to this state in some way or another, sure, but let yourself have a moment of feeling good about having recognised your mistake as well. It’s undoubtedly the hardest step.
No, it IS the fault of the FBI and all others involved! I refuse to go along with the attempted deflection of blame. CORPORATE AMERICA is at fault…because they have amassed power for themselves. You are blaming the victim.
If The People are guilty of anything, it is being too trusting.
‘Allahu Akbar’ huh?
Somebody go follow a Muslim for a day and watch how many times they utter the phrase – when they’re caught by surprise, when something finally clicks and they get it, when they’re in awe, when they’re nervous, when they’re trying to be brave, when they experience something new, when they’re in despair… Put it into perspective. ‘Said Allahu Akbar while xyz’. wow
This is tragic on so many levels.
Chris Christie and the FBI are really just poisonous turds, to be quite honest.
Outstanding video. I hope this gets spread far and wide.
I suppose they have to get their quota for the prisons they built somehow.