The New York City Police Department is being asked to turn over documents related to its alleged efforts to spy on and infiltrate Muslim communities.

Civil liberties groups filed suit in federal court after the Associated Press reported police were monitoring aspects of daily life in Muslim neighborhoods.

The AP claims documents showed plainclothes officers were eavesdropping inside businesses and hundreds of mosques were investigated.

Police apparently maintained a list of 28 countries that were labeled "ancestries of interest."

Lawyers say the practice violates previous orders prohibiting the NYPD from maintaining information on people not involved in crimes.

The NYPD has not commented on the case.