Muslim stereotypes challenged in US

BBC ^ | 2-6-04 | Jacky Rowland

[Indy Pendance]

The US Department of Justice is trying to combat racial stereotypes surrounding the Muslim community since the 11 September terrorist attacks.

A training programme aimed at police officers and other public officials is seeking to increase understanding of Muslim culture, in the hope that this will defuse tensions.

Lobna Ismael is the daughter of Egyptian immigrants to the US. She is a Muslim and she wears the traditional headscarf, the hijab.

"There's been a range of backlash toward Arab and Muslim Americans," she says.

"It has included verbal assaults, it has included physical assaults. We had a woman who just recently was walking down the street and wearing hijab, and was stabbed and called a terrorist. We've had our mosque defamed with graffiti and people shooting bullets into the windows of our mosque."

Now Ms Ismael is challenging those stereotypes, by carrying out a series of training workshops for the Department of Justice.

Learning curve

I met her at a police station in Montgomery County, Maryland, where she has been training officers from the local force.

Captain Edward Coursey was one of her trainees.

Driving me around his Takoma Park beat, he acknowledged that there had been a tendency to view Muslims as potential terrorist suspects.

"Particularly after the 9/11 attacks, we in the law enforcement community have obviously geared up to be on the lookout for terrorism. And I guess the immediate reaction might have been to look at Muslims in a sceptical way," he said.

"This training allows us to realise that the vast majority of people in the Arab American community have nothing to do with terrorism. They are peace-loving people like ourselves, and they may need our protection."

Scepticism

But a lot of Muslims are unconvinced by the Department of Justice scheme.

They are less concerned about how the police treat them than they are about attitudes high up in the Bush administration.

After Friday prayers at the Islamic Center of Maryland, I sat on the floor of the mosque and chatted with a group of young Muslim men.

They think the Bush administration is sending out mixed messages to the Muslim community - with police sensitivity training on the one hand, and racial profiling on the other.

"You have sensitivity training for police, because they have to deal with criminals," said Hanif Khalak.

"Are all Muslims criminals? Why not sensitivity training for government? Do they think we're all going to jail so we may as well make it a nice experience?"

"And for what purpose, if our brothers and sisters can't get due process?" added his friend, Wael Elkoshairi.

"We don't need sensitivity training, we need our rights. And I think that's what we are looking for as a community, more than anything else."

But senior people at the Department of Justice defend the programme.

"A lot of people don't know a whole lot about what's going on," said Sharee Freeman, the director of the Community Relations Service with the Department of Justice.

"But I know the work that's being done by the Bush administration, so I don't think it's lip service at all."

Muslim Americans are wary of the President and his overtly Christian administration, and they feel they have been unfairly singled out for monitoring since 11 September.

But community leaders appear to recognise that the government is trying to build bridges, and that it is probably in everyone's best interest to meet them half way.

[Indy Pendance]

.

[dennisw]

And a big Allah hu Akbar for the pedophile prophet

[Coroner]

We should leave the poor muslims alone and let them plot in peace.

[dagnabbit]

National Suicide via Islamic Immigration Bump

[eleni121]

I know exactly what Muslims in the US would like and it ain't a pretty picture for Christians and Jews not to mention other "infidels"

All one has to do is look at examples from history. Wherever muslims have invaded Christians have disappeared or been decimated.

[Destructor]

I'm ready. When they get to my house-- they won't like what they find!

[Spruce]

Anybody's right to practice their religion ends at "the tip of my nose".

[Jorge]

We had a woman who just recently was walking down the street and wearing hijab, and was stabbed and called a terrorist.

Personally when I see any woman wearing one of those hijabs, I am turned off.

But I never felt the impulse to stab her and call her a terrorist.
I don't think that is appropriate.

[Viking2002]

Stereotyping always has a basis in fact. Don't want to be stereotyped? Quit behaving that way.

[CommandoFrank]

There's been a range of backlash toward Arab and Muslim Americans," she says.

Gee, I wonder why???

[chachacha]

Muslim Americans are wary of the President and his overtly Christian administration, and they feel they have been unfairly singled out

Singled OUT! HAHAHA

WAIT TILL Armegeddon

[Rocky]

Why would we "profile" Muslims? Let's see, they fly planes into buildings, bomb our embassies, strap bombs onto young people, cheer in the streets when our people are killed, and declare jihads against us continually. They cry when Saddam is captured. They send money to bin Laden.

But, really, they are peace-loving, and we should not profile them. We should go after 90-year-old ladies as much as we do 20-year-old Middle Eastern men.

The world is upside down, wrong is right and right is wrong. The lunatics are running the asylum.

[Mark17]

Wherever muslims have invaded Christians have disappeared or been decimated.

Roger on the ready for them.

[tet68]

We should leave the poor muslims alone and let them plot in peace.

ROFL.

One of these days, because of the actions of their brother
muslims they will LONG for the days when they were ONLY
harrassed.

That day is coming as sure as the terrorist incident that will trigger it.

[Diogenesis]

The American stereotype of freedom has been challenged by Islamic terrorists

[rocksblues]

Your post says it all. Imagine how bad it will get if the Democrats regain power!

[doodad]

It is really Arabs not muslims. My muslim friends are Europeans (Bosnia) and not at all like any of the things we see as "Islam." They live like Europeans (drink wine), love America (for saving them), and work hard aspiring to be good citizens. I bought my friend a gift when he became a citizen because he worked hard on the exam. There are good muslims, but I suspect few are Arabs.

[Oztrich Boy]

Like the stereotype of Muslims as delusional idiots?

You have sensitivity training for police, because they have to deal with criminals," said Hanif Khalak. "Are all Muslims criminals? Why not sensitivity training for government? Do they think we're all going to jail so we may as well make it a nice experience?"

No. You have sensitivity training only if you are operating on the assumption that some Muslims (somewhere) might not be criminals.

[Oztrich Boy]

It is really Arabs not muslims.

Suspect you're right. Outside the non-Arabic core (Balkans, Turkey, Urbanized Afghanistan (40 years ago before the Wahhabis took over), even Indonesia are not Jihadistsas

[Valin]

Don't want to be stereotyped? Quit behaving that way.

What way?

[PattonReincarnated]

>> We should leave the poor muslims alone and let them plot in peace.

We should leave the muslims poor and give them a plot to rest in peace.

[Monty22]

No kidding, they act like we are irrational for hating them.. Even though they do not a DAMN thing to reign in jihadists.

Too bad islamics. You are asking for it and them some. And you'll get yours.

[thoughtomator]

Are you aware of the meaning of the hijab? It has a political, not a religious meaning. And that political meaning is that the wearer is a supporter of murder in the name of Islam.

The hijab never existed before the Muslim Brotherhood introduced it into Egypt in the 1970s.

[CalKat]

Do you honestly think Muslims are going to invade the US?

[CalKat]

There are Indonesian jihadists and even the moderate Muslims in Indonesia are becoming more militant and anti-US.

[calljack]

The invasion began almost 20 years ago,it is going full speed as we type. There is but a few years left to save our country as we knew it. Our government, both parties, have no interest in saving us because to speak and do the necessary things would cost them the next election. 15% of the electorate can control a country. Lots of polititions in lots of countries are currently afraid to alienate the muslem population because they would lose the next election. It will soon be the third rail of politics here then all will be lost. Devide and conquer. Have we ever been this divided?? We are getting close.

[CalKat]

When have Muslims ever been a significant voting block in federal elections in the US? And even the cheese eating surrender monkey, as he's called here, Jacques Chirac, is alienating Muslims in France by outlawing the hijab.

[IronJack]

If you listen really carefully, you can hear the sound of the world's smallest violin playing a dirge for the poor misunderstood Muslims.

[blam]

" That day is coming as sure as the terrorist incident that will trigger it."

Bet on it.

[sneakers]

"A training programme aimed at police officers and other public officials is seeking to increase understanding of Muslim culture, in the hope that this will defuse tensions."

Sorry, this is the farthest I got. I have an idea; how's about the muslims learning and understanding American culture - yeah, that's what they should do - after they have sincerely expressed an apology about what happened on 9/11! That might help to diffuse tensions.

[StopGlobalWhining]

Much of this tension between Christians/Jews and the Islamic community in the US and the rest of the world could be eliminated if we would just accept Allah and convert to Islam.

[calljack]

They are not yet, that is exactly my point. They will be eventually if their birth rate continues to climb and ours continues to fall. Think of how laid back we were in 1970. Now think Mexicans + California + 40 years. They win via superior breeding. Whites are a minority here.

[Charles H. (The_r0nin)]

A training programme aimed at police officers and other public officials is seeking to increase understanding of Muslim culture, in the hope that this will defuse tensions.

Frankly, I think a program that helps increase understanding of the "real" culture of Muslims will increase tensions. Most people don't know how dangerous the extremist Muslims really are. A quick course on Sharia law or honor-killings is just the thing to open someone's eyes...

[Hank Rearden]

Personally when I see any woman wearing one of those hijabs, I am turned off.

Yeah. It's sort of prima facie evidence of gross stupidity, isn't it?

[RLK]

Idiots who worship at the feet of an aggressive psychitic from 1,400 years ago deserve all the disgust and ridicule they get.

[Jorge]

Are you aware of the meaning of the hijab? It has a political, not a religious meaning. And that political meaning is that the wearer is a supporter of murder in the name of Islam.

Wow. If this is true it more than explains the creepy feeling I get when I see one.

[Frank_2001]

The Baghdad Broadcasting Corporation couldn't resist a little Christian bashing there...not so tolerant themselves, eh?

[Siamese Princess]

Frankly, I think a program that helps increase understanding of the "real" culture of Muslims will increase tensions. Most people don't know how dangerous the extremist Muslims really are. A quick course on Sharia law or honor-killings is just the thing to open someone's eyes...

It would be a good idea to understand what Islam is really all about, but the police will be taught a sanitized, phony Islam that few Muslims actually believe in. The important thing is that the infidels believe that the sanitized, phony Islam is the true Islam and that the fundamentalists are "perverting" their religion. Of course, the Muslims will laugh at the infidels behind their backs for their gullibility and ignorance.

I might add that stereotypes are usually based in reality.

[thoughtomator]

Not surprising, when the message is a very direct "I am just waiting for the moment to kill you and everyone like you".

[mathurine]

no doubt soon we will have a mohammedanism advocate in every college and club on the payroll. All you have to do to get a job in America is to have a loud-mouth and one will be created for you. These jobs, of course, are pure inventions, requiring nothing of value, but, of course, lead nowhere, which, in turn . requires one to consider the possibility of further protestations over the lack of advancement opportunities for people like that.

[Jorge]

Not surprising, when the message is a very direct "I am just waiting for the moment to kill you and everyone like you".

If that is the message, I am not one bit afraid of these radicals. We've been kicking their sorry butts all over this world in both the culture wars and in military force.

They are losers. In this and the next world.

[Woahhs]

Are you aware of the meaning of the hijab? It has a political, not a religious meaning. And that political meaning is that the wearer is a supporter of murder in the name of Islam.

Can you source this, please. All I can find is Muslim boiler plate on the subject.

[thoughtomator]

There were other reasons for taking up and defending hijab. One was the growing reaffirmation of nation identity and rejection of values and styles seen as western. In response to Egypt's catastrophic loss to Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War, and the seeming failure of secularism, there also was a push to return to Islamic laws which had been abandoned. Modernization was seen as negative, a phenomena which encouraged people to reject not only Islamic but all indigenous traditions. Wearing hijab came to symbolize not the inferiority of the culture in comparison to western ways, but its uniqueness and superiority.

The real surge toward donning hijab came with Iran's revolution. Women were seen as key elements in achieving changes in public morality and private behavior. Unveiled women were mocked, called unchaste "painted dolls," and were punished if they appeared in public without proper covering. In countries beyond Iran in the 1970s, demonstrations and sit-ins appeared over opposition to the required western style dress code for university students and civil servants.

From Women in World History

Further info on this from Amir Taheri

The practical purpose of the hijab is to mark the women already conquered by Islam, to spare them the treatment that Islam has in store for non-Muslim women - rape, murder, and slavery.

[Capriole]

If anyone cares: I live in Montgomery County, Maryland. I read the crime reports every week. I have not seen any report of any woman in the county being stabbed for wearing a hijab. In fact, I can't find a report of a woman of any description being stabbed while walking down the street. Is anybody surprised? This sounds to me like a lot of the self-pitying hysteria that sprung up after 9-11 when there were all these false stories about Moslems being harassed or assaulted.

[ozzymandus]

If they don't like being stereotyped as terrorists, maybe they should quit being stereotypical terrorists.

[eleni121]

Where were you on 9/11?
Muslims already attacked from within.
Invasion isn't just hordes of armies hitting our beaches and fighting us.
An invasion can subtly occur from within. This is not new. The Communists were actively undermining our freedom and principles for years...are they done? NOT!

[Valin]

If they don't like being stereotyped as terrorists, maybe they should quit being stereotypical terrorists.

You mean like this?

Open Letter from an Arab-American Student (Worthwhile reading)
FrontPageMagazine.com June 2, 2003
Oubai Mohammad Shahbandar
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/921658/posts?page=1
(snip)
The frontlines of this war stretch across the entire globe and into our classrooms, our homes, our places of worship, into every aspect of our everyday lives. But don't tell this to our tenured terror appeasers who hide behind the intellectual credentials that have been bestowed on them by the anti-American university system.

They have never known the humiliation of living under the iron rule of an Islamic despotism. I have. They have never tasted the cruel bitterness of forced silence in the shadows of a dictatorship. I have. They have never seen the face of evil. I have. For I was born and raised in Syria, the country enslaved by Hafez El-Assad. I was one of the fortunate victims of this tyranny because my family was able to emigrate to American a land of freedom. Yet in the free universities of this country legitimacy is bestowed on the very forces that oppress my former countrymen and I am instructed to be compassionate towards my own oppressors and to be hostile to the country that has liberated me.

I have had to witness the post 9-11 "teach in" sponsored by our university president's "Campus Environment Team" entitled "Understanding the 'other,'" which sought to place moral equivalency between America and the terrorists who attacked us. I have had to listen to inanities about the attack like that of a member of the university-sponsored Diversity Awareness Programming Board who said, " we must remember that 9-11 was about diversity too." I have been subjected to the humiliating prospect of the university's anti-American, anti-war poetry reading, sponsored by our English Department last April. I have had to watch our unversity president, Michael Crow, provide a platform for the former Swedish Ambassador so he could spill his anti-American bile before a university audience. I have had to listen to the Administration's guest Mary Francis Berry denounce the most tolerant nation in the world as a racist oppressor. I have had to walk daily by the mural plastered on the Memorial Union and sponsored by the university's "progressive coalition" and funded by the university itself which features a map of the United States with "Racist Nation" and "Bush is Racist" and "What about the Arabs" written across it.

This August I will be heading to Israel to study counter terrorism under a program hosted by the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy. I, a Muslim Arab was able to attend this program largely due to the gracious sponsorship of David Horowitz, a Jew. No multicultural sensitivity class made that possible. I will not stand idly by as our professors and our universities pave the road for terror's long march into humanity's last sanctuary of freedom.

What contribution will you make to the cause of liberty, to our nation's security?

I am a Muslim American Arab and I am willing to fight for my country. How about you?



"It is easy to fly into a passion--anybody can do that--but to be angry with the right person and at the right time and with the right object and in the right way--that is not easy, and it is not everyone who can do it."
-- Aristotle
Can you?

[tedkrack]

"The invasion began almost 20 years ago,it is going full speed as we type. There is but a few years left to save our country as we knew it. Our government, both parties, have no interest in saving us because to speak and do the necessary things would cost them the next election. 15% of the electorate can control a country. Lots of polititions in lots of countries are currently afraid to alienate the muslem population because they would lose the next election. It will soon be the third rail of politics here then all will be lost. Devide and conquer. Have we ever been this divided?? We are getting close."

You could not be more correct. Look at what's happened to France about 40 years or so of unrestrained Muslim immigration; France is lost, or almost so, despite the fact that Paris recently woke up and realized the country would soon be a Muslim country. I fear Britain is well along the same path. We're next, unless we wake up NOW.