FBI spokesman Ricky Rains in Oklahoma City declined to comment.
Soltani said Long and his sister, Ava Anderson, of Oklahoma City, noticed that they were being followed several times while driving around McAlester. Soltani said when his sister was set to return back to her Oklahoma City home the day after Thanksgiving, he decided to go with her, but he laid in the back of her car thinking that she would not be followed.
Soltani said Anderson noticed that several cars following behind her began flashing their lights and she surmised that she was being requested to pull over. Soltani said Anderson decided it would be safer to pull over in front of the local police station, so she drove there. Soltani said when Anderson arrived, McAlester police surrounded the vehicle and she was ordered out of the car at gunpoint. Soltani said Anderson told the officers that her brother was in the back seat and then Long held his hands up as he got out of the car as well. Both Long and his sister were handcuffed by the police after exiting the vehicle, Soltani said.
Soltani said Long said he was confused because the FBI never tried to talk to him during this encounter, but only approached his sister. Soltani said local police officials allowed Long and his sister to leave after the police explained to Anderson that the FBI was seeking to talk to her.
“Our speculation is that it is a form of intimidation,” Soltani said. “Our fear is that it may not be the end. That's why we're calling for the investigation.”
Soltani said Long is now concerned for the safety of his family both in Oklahoma and in Qatar.
“Saadiq and his family and us here at CAIR are just looking for answers,” he said.
Contributing: The Associated Press
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