The recent arrest of Mohamad Hamdan, 22, by the FBI on charges of terrorism should serve as a stark reminder for the Arab and Muslim communities that regardless of where we stand politically, we have to be mindful and observant of the United States’ laws. 

Mr. Hamdan is accused of providing material support to Hizbullah after he allegedly told an FBI informant that he plans to join the group in its battle in Syria. However, We do not believe that Mr. Hamdan posed a threat to the national security of the United States. 

Whether we think that Hizbullah is a terrorist organization or a resistance movement, and whether we think its members are justified in fighting al-Qaeda-related groups in Syria or not, the fact remains that the group is a designated terrorist organization by the United States.  

It is illegal to provide material support to a terrorist organization. But it is constitutionally protected political dissent to voice disagreement with the U.S. government’s labeling of a group as terrorist. We disagree with designating Hizbullah as such.

The other reality we need to be aware of is that while free speech is a right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, that freedom is not absolute. 

People are not free to state that they are about to violate the law, take actions that could be construed as steps towards committing that crime and expect the government not to act. The defense might argue that Mr. Hamdan was “just mouthing off” or “just bragging” but legal matters are not a joke.

Whether Mr. Hamdan said what the government alleges he said, whether he meant it, and whether he broke the law are all questions for the justice and court systems to sort out. 

However, as a community, we need to be careful and aware of the difference between protected political speech and announcing intent to engage in illegal activity. Although it is not perfect, we should have faith in our judicial system and hope that justice will be served for Hamdan or others who may find themselves in similar predicaments, accidentally or on purpose.

While learning from this young man’s alleged mistakes, let us remember a fundamental principle in our judicial system: Mr. Hamdan is innocent unless proven guilty.  

The war in Syria has provided an opportunity for intelligence agencies to nab Arab and Muslim men on the premise that they were heading to fight for terrorist groups engaged in the war. Just as Mr. Hamdan was arrested in Detroit, another Muslim man was arrested in Seattle for allegedly planning to join al-Qaeda-linked rebel forces.

It is not wrong to have strong opinions on current events in Syria or on any other issue here or abroad. But the legal way to express your stands on any conflict is peaceful advocacy within the limitation of the law. 

The terrain of the Syrian war is too legally complicated for our community members to provide material support to any side in the war. Instead, material support should be provided to humanitarian organizations that are trying to help ease the misery of the Syrian people with food and blankets, not guns and bullets.