Muslims seek to reverse ruling that allowed NY police spying

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Muslim residents of New Jersey will be in court to try to reverse a ruling that found New York City police could legally monitor their activities.

Two civil rights groups, Muslim Advocates and the Center for Constitutional Rights, will argue their appeal Tuesday before the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. The plaintiffs include a U.S. soldier, a school principal and several Rutgers University students.

They argue that last year's ruling from U.S. District Judge William Martini of Newark gives police the authority to violate their civil rights.

The case involves the New York Police Department's decision to spy on Muslim groups at mosques, restaurants and schools since 2002.

The practice came to light through a series of articles by The Associated Press. The series won a Pulitzer Prize in 2012.

Martini wrote that police could not keep an eye "on Muslim terrorist activities without monitoring the Muslim community itself."

He also said the AP - and not police -would be responsible for any harm that ensued.

"The city's surveillance program is explicitly based upon, and accordingly perpetuates, a malignant stereotype: that Muslims are a danger to society," lawyers for the civil rights groups wrote in their appeal brief.

They also said their clients have suffered harm to their reputations that could threaten their livelihoods.

New York City, in its response, noted that New Jersey authorities found no evidence the city police department had broken any New Jersey laws.

A similar lawsuit is pending in federal court in Brooklyn.