Friday, May 22, 2009

Are people with mentally ill being preyed upon by extremists?

The New York Times reports that at least one of the four men recently arrested for the plot to bomb a New York synagogue suffers from mental illness.
(Laguerre) Payen, described as a nervous, quiet sort who took medication for schizophrenia or a bi-polar disorder, 

A friend who visited Mr. Payen’s apartment on Thursday said it contained bottles of urine, and raw chicken on the stovetop.


Hamin Rashada, an assistant imam from the Islamic Learning Center of Orange County... said. “(Payen) has some very serious psychological problems,”...adding that Mr. Payen was on medications and talked in circles.

People with mental illness are very vulnerable. Family members, friends, co-workers, advocates, and caregivers already are helping them to protect themselves from financial scammers, sexual abusers, drug dealers, and other predators.  Add to that the heightened vulnerability to being preyed upon by recruiters for violent religious or political extremism that those with schizophrenia seem to have.

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