WASHINGTON, 15 June 2007 — The FBI is trying new tactics to win over the opinion of Arab-Americans. In an effort to change perceptions about itself — which were damaged by a wave of arrests and searches since the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001 — it recently sponsored Arab-American and Muslim-American comedians to perform at the annual convention of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, ADC.
“It’s so nice to be standing in front of the FBI and not be handcuffed,” quipped Egyptian-American comedian Ahmed Ahmed, one of the performers at an FBI-sponsored comedy show during the convention, held last weekend.
“The ‘Axis of Evil Comedy Tour,’ which is a group of Arab-American and Muslim American comedians, gave quite a performance. “It was a surprise to us that the FBI wanted to do this, because all their comedy is very much the result of 9/11 environment and they make light of President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and the FBI — especially the way they interview Muslims and Arabs,” said Kareem W. Shora, ADC’s executive director, who added the comedy group was the highlight of the convention.
“They’re very funny,” said Shora. “But if you’re a politician and you support many of those measures, you might be offended. But the FBI wasn’t. They actually helped us bring these comedians to Washington to our convention. They paid for all the expenses, and it’s not cheap to do such a comedy show with over a thousand people in the audience.”
It was good that the agents who attended did have a sense of humor. Maz Jobrani, an Iranian-American actor and comedian with the ‘Axis of Evil’, got thunderous applause when he arrived on stage and turned his digital camera on the two tables reserved for FBI officials. “I just want to take a picture of you,” he said.
Aron Kader, a Palestinian-American comedian, said he had no second thoughts about the FBI sponsorship. “I hope they tap my phone. I have a lot to say,” Kader told the audience.
Gwen Hubbard, chief of the FBI’s National Recruitment and Marketing unit, explained the logic behind the FBI’s support: “We, within the FBI, are trying to break down a lot of barriers and create a different brand about the FBI within the Arab-American and Muslim American community. So, what better way that to allow the attendees to see us as we are? We’re just like them — we like to laugh and have a good time, too.”
“Usually when you create a relaxed atmosphere, you can break barriers within the community,” Hubbard told Arab News. “Outreach becomes much more effective. As people become more relaxed and less guarded, and they are more willing to listen and share ideas to help enhance the overall mission.”
“Historically, the FBI is viewed as very stuffy and straight-laced organization by certain communities across the US. We wanted to put a human face on the FBI, and you can be just like us, come in a join us — as agents or in any professional staff position.”
Hubbard said the gamble paid off. “Several Arab-Americans present at the ADC convention were recruited, and are now undergoing the application process.”
She said they hoped to book the comedians for a national conference of FBI recruiters in October.
Gamal Abdel-Hafiz, an Egyptian-American and the first Muslim FBI agent, encouraged guests to consider FBI careers, adding, “We will never change what we don’t like unless we take part.”
He told reporters that he had asked to speak to the ADC convention because he remained concerned by the lack of Muslims at the agency, which he said still had fewer than 10 Muslim agents out of a total number of over 12,000.
