It’s bad enough that the U.S. is having to dedicate so many resources into preventing ISIS jihadists from spilling innocent American blood (“more than 110 people have been publicly charged in federal court since late 2013” in ISIS connected cases in the U.S.) – now we have to worry about their friends and family withholding vital information from law enforcement that might be able to prevent deadly attacks. Reuters reports on some of the numbers:

In more than 80 percent of the Islamic State cases that have been prosecuted since 2013, someone in the community of the accused person believed they had witnessed the activity for which the person was ultimately charged, according to Carlin. In more than half of those cases, the witnesses did not report anything to law enforcement authorities until after the charges were made. [Emphasis added.]

One can see why some Muslims are reticent about revealing important info to law enforcement when prominent Islamist activist groups lobby against such efforts. For example, the Hamas affiliated Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) California displayed fliers on its website in 2011 discouraging cooperation between Muslims and the FBI with messages like, “BUILD A WALL OF RESISTANCE[,]” as well as “DON’T TALK TO THE F.B.I.”

There is also animosity toward non-Muslims within Islamic doctrine that may be contributing to the friction between Muslims and ‘kafirs‘ (non-Muslims). Some passages from the Quran include:

Let not believers take disbelievers as allies rather than believers. And whoever [of you] does that has nothing with Allah, except when taking precaution against them in prudence. And Allah warns you of Himself, and to Allah is the [final] destination. –Quran 3:28

And the disbelievers planned, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners. –Quran 3:54

O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result. –Quran 4:59

O you who have believed, do not take the disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do you wish to give Allah against yourselves a clear case? -Quran 4:144

While many Muslims are loyal U.S. citizens, there are some who subscribe to the Dar al-Islam (House of Islam) and Dar al-harb (House of War) type mentality – seeing non-Muslims and their governments as the enemy. Therefore, even terrorist sympathizers can be perceived as the lesser of two evils – the other evil being ‘infidel’ governments.

The growing threat of jihadism in the U.S. is real. “The Department of Justice charged 60 people last year with supporting or committing crimes because of their sympathies to Islamic State, the largest annual figure on record.” With jihad knocking at the door in the U.S. we must institute reforms to further incentivize cooperation between citizens and law enforcement officials – especially during possible terrorism cases – and punish not just the jihadist but also those in the jihadi’s network that are complicit in efforts to support terrorism. Helping out jihadists whether implicitly or explicitly should not be tolerated.