5 Years on, US Muslims Decry Prejudice

"I think that in many ways, our rights as citizens and residents of America have been challenged, and at times violated," Tayeh told IOL.

"The prejudice against Muslims is widespread since 9/11," Dr. Siraj Islam Mufti, a retired faculty from the University of Arizona and a retired chaplain from the US Department of Justice told IslamOnline.net.

"Some advocate profiling based on ethnicity, religion and even identification cards. As a result, there is an increase in a variety of hate crimes committed against Muslims," added Mufti, now a Contractor to the Federal Correctional Institutions as Imam and a contract Imam with the Corrections Corporation of America in Arizona.

"I experienced some difficult moments of racial profiles," insists hijab-clad Iman Hadi, remembering she faced her worst experience at the JFK airport in her way back from Egypt.

"We were singled out and were detained for about 6 hours for no reason," she complained.

"They took us to a room where I found tens of Arabs and Muslims, even Egypt Air’s pilots were waiting there. They asked us several questions and treated us in a very aggressive way. And the officer was very rude and was trying to humiliate us."

For Hadi, this was the moment when she felt stranger and unsafe in her own country where she lived for more than 20 years.

"They treated us like criminals and this guy (the officer) told us, ‘You are liars’. We are not liars because Muslims do not lie. We are American citizens and we are very well educated people. We pay our taxes and respect others," she added angrily.

Hadi said that they released them at the end without any condemnations.

"They have the right to take all precautions to protect us and our country, but not over our civil rights."

A recent survey by Quinnipiac University Polling Institute found out that most Americans support enforcing racial profile against people who look "Middle Eastern" at airports and train stations.

Amnesty International repeatedly said that racial profiling by US law enforcement agencies had grown dramatically in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

Stereotyping

Hadi has no complains about prejudice and believes that most of her fellows Americans are nice and fair.

"I have absolutely no complaint from our fellow Americans."

However, many other American Muslims had a different experience.

Naji Rida, a 25-year-old student at University of California, Los Angeles, has dealt with stereotyping in different situations since 9/11.

"It is too bad to feel rejected at your home," he told IOL.

"You could hear people shouting, ‘Muslims go home’ or ‘all Arabs go home’. We are part of the American society, but those people assume that we do not belong to this country," Rida lamented.

"No one has the right to tell me ‘go home’ simply because this is my home," said thee resolved Muslim student.

Muslim women and girls are facing more prejudice because of their Islamic appearance.

Khadijah Hassan, a 15-year-old hijab-clad student, recalls countless times when people would flip up her head cover up from the back, laughing and saying, ‘Now I have seen your hair.’

"Then, they would tell others how my hair looked," she said sadly.

Sarah Habib, another veiled student who lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, also had faced prejudice in a number of incidents.

"I have dealt with endless staring and pointing in public places," said the 15-year-old.

"However, this does not discourage me, because a lot of this comes from the misconception of Islam and I hope to change this attitude by the way I act," she a proud and determined Habib.

She was surprised to know that some Americans cannot recognize that Islam is a religion.

"I was walking in a theme park in Branson, MO, with my friends when a woman walked up to us and asked us if we were from Islam," Habib recalls.

"We told her no, we are from Tulsa, but we are Muslims. So, she said, ‘Oh, I thought you were from Islam.’"

Yasmeen al Kassir, a Muslim Californian student at Pierce College who doesn’t wear hijab, still feels that her life has changed since 9/11.

"After September 11, I experienced some hatred from people. I got into a fight with a girl who used to be a friend," said Kassir, 24.

"She tried to blame me for what happened and tried to say it was all the Iraqis fault."

A report by the Senate Intelligence Select Committee ruled out on Friday, September 9, any links between ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and Al-Qaeda.

Before and after the 2003 invasion, the Bush administration used purported ties between Iraq and Al-Qaeda, as part of their justification for the war.

Rights Violated

Many Muslim girls faced discrimination because of their hijab. (file photo)

Raeed N. Tayeh, a political and media consultant from Washington, insists American Muslims’ rights have been violated.

"I think that in many ways, our rights as citizens and residents of America have been challenged, and at times violated," said Tayeh, the author of the book, "A Muslim's Guide to American Politics and Government."

"What Muslims need to understand is that we are not the first minority community in America to have to fight for certain rights, nor has our community been harmed as much as others have in the past, such as African-Americans and Japanese-Americans."

Thousands of Muslims and Arabs were rounded up and questioned in the weeks and months following the September attacks.

Some of the detainees have sued the US government after their release for inhumane and degrading treatment and a total blackout of communications in detention centers on the US soil.

The US government agreed in February to pay $300,000 to settle an illegal detention lawsuit brought by an Egyptian man who was rounded up in New York after 9/11.

The US Senate Office Of Research has said that Arab and Muslim Americans have taken the brunt of the Patriot Act and other federal powers applied in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

Paying for Extremists

Many American Muslims say extremists misrepresent Islam and Muslims and call on Americans to separate between Islam and terrorism.

"There are about 1.3 billion Muslims in the world and about 8 million Muslims living on the American soil," said Naeem Khan, 45.

"If a minority of Muslims is extremists, should the 1.3 billion Muslims across the world be extremists too?" asked Khan who is of Pakistani origin.

"Many American Muslims have been killed in September 11th attacks. We hate terrorism and extremists, but we also hate to be blamed for crimes we didn’t commit. Should all Germans be blamed for what Hitler has done? Should all Christians be blamed for what McVeigh has done?"

Timothy James McVeigh was convicted of eleven federal offenses and ultimately executed as a result of his role in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

The bombing claimed 168 lives and was the deadliest terrorist attack on US soil prior to the 9/11 attacks. It is still considered the deadliest incident of domestic terrorism in US history to date.

In August 2006, a USA Today/Gallup poll showed that 39 percent of Americans said they feel prejudiced toward Muslims.

About one quarter of Americans polled said they would not want a Muslim neighbor.

Another 39 percent would like Muslims to carry special identification at all times.

Pro-active

As many Muslims complain from prejudice, many others admit that they get continuous support confirming that this is the bright side of the American society.

Veiled Mayada al Kassir is a working American mother of four, including Yasmeen al Kassir.

She has been going to her work every morning since 9/11.

"Compared to the positive remarks and continuous support I am having at work, in street and wherever I go, I would rather ignore the few negative comments or gests coming out from a handful of ignorant people," she told IOL.

Kassir believes that some Muslims’ attitudes are behind the difficulties or prejudice they feel or face.

"Don’t try to go deep inside peoples’ eyes and hearts. I never follow peoples’ stares. I never try to search for the hate sentiment in their eyes," she said.

Kassir advises American Muslims to take actions and not reactions.

"I would rather smile and say, ‘Hi.’ than follow their stares and actions. Smiling is my great recipe that I give to every Muslim."

Asmaa Ali, a Californian teacher at an Islamic school, believes that time has come for American Muslims them to get out of their narrow circle and become more involved in society.

"Muslims should understand that they are part of the American society just like Christian and Jewish Americans," she told IOL.

"If we really want to stop these waves of stereotypes and profiles, we have to get out of our shell and become more involved in the American society."

"Let not those extremists represent our faith. We should introduce the beauty of Islam to others and show them that Islam means peace and that it never allows violence or terrorism."