|
Chicago Muslims Get Support
By Ayub Khan
CHICAGO, Sept 15 (IslamOnline) - As reports of hate crimes against Muslims and Arabs are being reported from around the country, Chicago-area Jewish and Christian leaders offered support and sympathy for their Muslim neighbors Friday.
At two mosques located on the southwest side of Chicago members from a coalition of churches and Catholic schools formed a human chain providing physical and symbolic protection to Muslims as they gathered for
Jumuah (Friday) prayers. They carried signs reading "Peace", "Unity" and "We are all mourning".
Condemning the misguided backlash against Muslims, Scott C. Alexander, Associate Professor of Islam and Director of Program in Catholic-Muslim Studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago told this correspondent: "This backlash dishonors the dead, the injured, and their families."
"This backlash demonstrates that the evil unleashed in these wicked attacks can take root in the hearts and souls of the American people and continue to destroy us from within. To level any form of hatred or prejudice at the
umma (Muslim community) because of the actions of a radical fringe, is to link arms with this fringe and join in its twisted crusade that only masquerades as a 'holy' war, but is actually nothing more than the campaign of
Iblis [the Devil] to lead us all away from the straight path. Now, more than ever, it is critical that Muslims, Christians, Jews, and all believers pray for an increase in
taqwa, or God-consciousness."
Addressing an interfaith gathering of over 300 people at the Islamic Foundation mosque in Villa Park, the Rev. Jesse Jackson urged everyone to ''seek a higher truth than an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."
''Do you turn on each other, or do you turn to the Master of your faith?'' Jackson asked.
Umar Faruq Abdullah, chairman of the Nawawi Foundation, a Chicago-based Islamic educational group, said, ''Terrorism, which we condemn, has no denomination. Our religion is a religion that condemns terrorism."
At the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview, IL, which was the scene of anti-Muslim demonstrations by white teenagers earlier in the week, Muslims held their own counter-demonstration Friday.
Many local politicians and community leaders spoke at the demonstration urging people not to equate terrorism with Islam and Muslims, as Muslim demonstrators waved American flags.
At the Muslim Community Center in Chicago, 15 police officers stood guard as Muslims came for Jumuah prayers. As this correspondent walked towards the main door of the mosque, a passing motorist yelled at the police: "You should not be protecting these people." Another said, "These people should not be allowed in this country."
Inside, Muslims prayed for the deceased and offered condolences for the survivors. The main notice board of the mosque read: "Prayer services are being offered for the victims five times a day."
Chicago police said they have received 13 reports since Tuesday of hate-related incidents targeting Muslims and Arabs.
On Friday, Chicago police arrested an individual for a hate crime after he threatened an Arab business.
Andrew Holden, 49, was charged after allegedly threatening to blow up the Family Food Center. Holden was charged with assault, a hate crime and disorderly conduct in making a bomb threat, which is a Class 3 felony, said Chicago Police News Affairs Deputy Director Pat Camden. A Class 3 felony is punishable with a fine of up to $10,000, Camden said.
Holden walked into the Family Food Center and announced he had a bomb Thursday at 3:50 p.m., Camden said.
He approached the Arab-American owner and said, "I've got a bomb in this bag and I'm going to blow this store up like you Arabs blew up the World Trade Center," Camden said.
Camden stressed the serious nature of making a bomb threat and that police would arrest anyone making that type of threat.
As a result of the attacks, in order to share in the grief of their fellow Americans, many mosques are now flying American flags on rooftops and gates.
|
