DETROIT — On Monday, Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American News, made an appearance on FOX News’ “The O’Reilly Factor” to discuss the end of the New York Police Department’s Muslim surveillance program. 

The show is hosted by Bill O’Reilly, a popular American television host and political commentator. O’Reilly started the interview by asking Siblani, “In Detroit, in your area, in Michigan, you know there are militant Muslims, jihadists, correct?”  O’Reilly insisted that metro Detroit is home to militant mosques, which Siblani denied, adding that he didn’t know of any militant jihadists in Detroit or New York. “If I know of someone who is trying to hurt our country and our people, I would be the first one to call the FBI and tell them,” Siblani said. 

O’Reilly said Siblani was siding with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was in favor of ending the program. “You are basically saying and siding with de Blasio who says, you know what? We don’t really care. We’ll let them attack first, then we’ll do something about it. That’s insane,” O’Reilly said. 

Siblani responded saying that he was siding with the U.S. Constitution, and that elected officials are responsible for protecting the rights of people, not harassing them. 

Siblani said that when law enforcment monitors an entire Muslim population, their rights are being violated. Siblani also appeared on WWJ Radio this week to discuss the interview. He told WWJ that O’Reilly refused to acknowledge or understand that the U.S. Constitution protects the rights of all individuals and that there is no exception for Muslims.

On Tuesday, April 29, Siblani will appear on Al Jazeera’s program, From Washington to discuss his interview with O’Reilly. The program broadcasts in Arabic, and will begin at 10 a.m. eastern time.