Decade On, 9/11 Still Haunts US Muslims

::jseblod::onislam_article::/jseblod::::onislamarticleaction::::/onislamarticleaction::::artpretitle:: ::/artpretitle::::artsubtitle:: ::/artsubtitle::::artseries:: ::/artseries::::artlead::Ten years after the 9/11 attacks on the United States, American Muslims are still feeling the pinch of Islamophobia and discrimination in their society::/artlead::::artepigraph:: ::/artepigraph::::artbody::WASHINGTON – Ten years after the 9/11 attacks on the United States, American Muslims are still feeling the pinch of Islamophobia and discrimination in their society.“The surveillance of Muslims has become widespread since 9/11,” Dawud Walid, director of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told Agence France-Presse (AFP).As the US is preparing to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Muslims still complain of hostile sentiments in American society.Complaints made to the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee last year rose to their highest point since 2003.Hate acts included workplace harassment, bullying at school, housing discrimination, and problems with police and immigration officials.In the wake of the attacks, around 481 “hate crimes” were reported from only 28 in 2000, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.By 2006, that number had shrunk to 150 and has hovered at around 100 per year ever since.Anti-Muslim hostility has also grown over plans to build an Islamic center near the 9/11 site in New York.The mosque controversy has resulted in attacks on Muslims and their property in the past months.“We have to be careful,” said Rizwan Jaka, a director of the Adams Center, one of the largest mosques and Muslim community centers in the Washington area.The Islamic Shari`ah has also become the focus of debate in the US, with several lawmakers proposing bans on the Islamic law in at least 15 states.ReliefMuslims hope that this year’s anniversary will be safer after the death of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.“At least at the 10th anniversary, we as all Americans can be at least comforted that (Al-Qaeda leader) Osama bin Laden is gone,” Jaka said.Bin Laden, whose group claimed the 9/11 attacks, was killed in a US raid on his compound in Pakistan in May.The American Muslim community “welcomed” bin Laden’s death and was “relieved justice was served for the victims,” said Jake.“It was an attack against all Americans, American Muslims were killed in the attacks, all the communities were attacked that day.”However, bin Laden’s death could not fully turn back the clock.On the day US President Barack Obama declared the killing of bin Laden, Muslim leaders shared the Americans their joy.Yet, they were faced by vandals who spray-painted the words "Osama today, Islam tomorrow" (sic) on a mosque in Portland, Maine, giving stark evidence that Muslim next door remain a polarizing image in some circles.Two Muslim men were also pulled off a plane heading to North Carolina for wearing traditional Islamic garb after the pilot refused to fly with them.Earlier this month, Obama honored American Muslims who lost their lives during the 9/11 attacks.A US survey has revealed that the majority of Americans know very little about Muslims and their faith.A Gallup poll earlier this month found that the majority of US Muslims are patriot and loyal to their country and are optimistic about their future.::/artbody::::artendnote:: ::/artendnote::::artfootnote:: ::/artfootnote::::artmainimage::oimedia/onislamen/images/mainimages/MuslimaAmerican.jpg::/artmainimage::::artcaption::US Muslims still feel the pinch of Islamophobia, ten years after the 9/11 attacks::/artcaption::::artalt::US Muslims, attacks, 9/11::/artalt::::artauthor:: ::/artauthor::::artboximage::::/artboximage::::artinterviewer:: ::/artinterviewer::::artcompiler:: ::/artcompiler::::artreviewer:: ::/artreviewer::::arttranslator:: ::/arttranslator::::artsource::OnIslam & News Agencies::/artsource::::artreference:: ::/artreference::::artlink1::9/11 Hearing Sparks US Furor::/artlink1::::artlinkurl1::http://www.onislam.net/english/news/americas/451758-911-hearing-sparks-us-furor.html::/artlinkurl1::::artlink2::Anti-Islam Campaign Galvanizes US Muslims::/artlink2::::artlinkurl2::http://www.onislam.net/english/news/americas/452971-anti-islam-campaign-galvanizes-us-muslims.html::/artlinkurl2::::artlink3::American Muslims Loyal, Optimistic: Poll::/artlink3::::artlinkurl3::http://www.onislam.net/english/news/americas/453334-american-muslims-loyal-optimistic-poll.html::/artlinkurl3::::artlink4::Stigma Haunts US Muslim Children ::/artlink4::::artlinkurl4::http://www.onislam.net/english/news/americas/452156-us-muslim-children-face-other-stigma.html::/artlinkurl4::::artlink5:: World Muslims Welcome Bin Laden’s Death::/artlink5::::artlinkurl5::http://www.onislam.net/english/news/global/452076-world-muslims-welcome-bin-ladens-death.html::/artlinkurl5::::button_submit::::/button_submit::::jseblodend::::/jseblodend::