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When Daniel Maldonado was led out of the Federal Courthouse in Houston, many Muslims here said it was another dark day.

Not because the former resident was charged with conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction, but because they knew the latest news would make 'their lives even more difficult.

"Being suspicious about it is fine. Being KGB about it is wrong," said Bobby Fatah.

Fatah is an American, a Houstonian, a talk show host and a Muslim.

He's also a man concerned about his community, he says, because it has been through so much already.

"911 is a scar in my heart and it will always be there. Not just because thousands of people lost their lives but because it tainted the picture," said Fatah. "It tainted the picture of Muslims completely."

About 400,000 Muslims live in the Houston area.

11 News spent time on the city's southwest side and heard from many Muslims who are desperate to get the word out about their fears. They worry about the growing lack of trust by their neighbors, the media and especially their government.

"Our mosques are being bugged and are being taped," said Fatah. "The people are being followed. Yes indeed, but what is the limit? You've got to draw the line somewhere."

It's no secret the FBI is conducting counterintelligence here and abroad.

"We have a lot of folks that are sympathizers to what is going on overseas and we definitely have a concern about that here," said FBI Supervisor Russell Robinson.

Agent Robinson insists the FBI does not focus on Muslims, reminding us of terrorist Timothy McVeigh.

That's small comfort for Houston Muslims.

"We are an outcast right now. We are scared," said Fatah. "We are scared that if something else like 911 ever happened, that we will be driven out of our houses and thrown into concentration camps like the Japanese in the second World War."

Brett Hovington is a supervisory special agent with the FBI in Washington D.C.

He admits the system isn't perfect, but says the bureau is making a strong effort to bridge the gap.

"There are strengths and weaknesses on both sides," said Hovington. "What we try and do is take our strengths from the government FBI perspective and partner up with the strengths of the organization or community to make sure we have win-win situations across the board."

And the Muslim community admits the Houston office of the FBI is working hard to improve the relationship here.

There is still tension though and it was clearly evident to us when several Muslims left the mosque after seeing the 11 News crew.

"A lot of people show their sympathy and empathy towards what we are going through," said Fatah. "But the problem is there is a certain portion of this whole machinery that is feeding the frenzy, feeding the fire."