Columbus, September 08: “O’Allah, it’s not easy to be an American Muslim, O’Allah protect the American Muslims,” that was Zerqa Abid’s voice imploring Allah at the Noor Islamic Cultural Center. She was winding up a lecture session given to a room full of young, enthusiastic Muslim girls by Saira Alludin and Asma Mubinuddin, president of the “Council on American Islamic Relations’ Ohio Chapter.”
That prayer summed up the state of American Muslims across the country. There is a feeling of unease as Eid Al-Fitr is approaching, close to the anniversary of 9/11. Also weighing on the minds of Muslims is the threat of the Dove World Outreach Center whose Pastor Terry Jones has suddenly become popular by threatening to burn copies of the Qur’an on Sept. 11.
“I hope Eid brings us the usual joys. We are getting quite tired of all of the Islamophobia that is surrounding us,” said Umm Kulthoom.
“Few had even heard of Terry Jones before he threatened to burn copies of the Qur’an in Gainesville, Florida where his church is based. Now he’s plastered on every news channel. And they call their organization Dove, which is a symbol of peace. My heart goes out to the small Muslim community in Gainesville; I hope there are no hate crimes against them,” she said.
“Hatred never builds bridges. Pastors, priests should not resort to such tactics. 9/11 was an unfortunate terrorist act. Terrorists have no religion. Muslims have already paid a price for it. We are always under scrutiny, suspicion. There is racial profiling. Some people look at your with hatred in their eyes. Some openly call you names. When will all this stop?”
Shireen, who lives close to the Noor Islamic Cultural Center in Columbus fears what the Muslim reaction will be.
“We have not even recovered from all the controversies surrounding the Ground Zero Islamic Center in Manhattan and now we have this. Sentiments are already running high at the proposed Qur’an burning. I am more afraid of what the Muslims will do once copies of the Qur’an are burned,” she said.
“The Qur’an is sacred and Muslims will not take it sitting down. If they do something crazy, it will have more repercussions on us American Muslims. I am not so afraid of the hate crimes here. In Muslim countries you are less safe. Look at Pakistan, people are afraid to pray in mosques, there’s always someone hurling grenades or blowing up people there. At least in the US you have more rights and protection.”
Islamic centers around the US are trying to cope with recent developments and are reaching out to curb anti-Muslim sentiment. The Noor Islamic Cultural Center recently held an interfaith outreach program where over 200 non-Muslims attended an Iftar party and learned first-hand about Islam.
-Agencies