The League of Arab States was exempt from paying $243,000 to its New York City landlord for additional security provided after the September 11 terrorist attacks of last year, a Manhattan court ruled.
Shortly after the attack on Manhattan’s Twin Towers, the Arab League informed its landlord, Third Avenue, that it had received bomb threats and death threats. The proprietor took action and installed an elevator in the building for the League’s exclusive use, guards and additional security cameras. Third Avenue then requested payment from the organization.
The League protested the request, insisting that the new security measures were uncalled for and singled them out from the rest of the tenants in the building. In December 2001, Third Avenue delivered a five-day eviction notice to the League, claiming that it owned them $79,000 and was breaching its lease dating back to 1983.
The League responded by suing Third Avenue and shortly after, the landowner filed a counter claim. Supreme Court Justice Kapnick overturned the claim that the organization was to blame for an increased threat to the building and granted the League's motion for summary judgment.
According to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Muslims and people who appear to have Middle Eastern origins were reported as victims of hate crimes more often in 2002 than ever before in the United States. The development was attributed to the September 11 attacks.
The FBI's annual hate crimes report revealed that incidents directed at people, institutions and businesses identified with Islam increased from 28 in 2000 to 481 in 2000. Conversely, with the increase to fewer than 500, Muslims remain less discriminated against than blacks, Jews, whites and homosexuals. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
