Posted on 02/16/2003 9:10:09 PM PST by knak
FOR Muslim crewman Naveed Mohammed there will be no clash of interests should he be called to action against Iraq. He dismisses the idea that an attack against Iraq is an attack against Islam.
"This is not about a war against Muslims," said the 20-year-old electrician, who doubles as a fireman aboard USS Abraham Lincoln.
"It is against terrorism. It is against weapons of mass destruction in the hands of a man who can do some harm.
"We are not fighting against Muslims. I am a Muslim myself. I laugh at the idea that an attack against Iraq is an attack against Islam."
Mr Mohammed was born in Islamabad, Pakistan, but moved to Michigan with his family as a nine-year-old and joined the US Navy 18 months ago.
There are around four practising Muslims on the Lincoln, which boasts a crew of 5,800.
But Mr Mohammed says there is no resentment among his colleagues and has even been provided with prayer mats, copies of the Quran and a prayer room.
They were set aside for the Muslims by Chief Religious Programme Specialist Richard Kleiner, who is Jewish.
Some shipmates sniped at him for being Muslim, but most didn't care what religion he was, said Mr Mohammed.
"To be honest over the last six or seven months, we have got to be like a family," he said.
"They recently set up prayer rooms and set aside a time for me and my friend to go to Friday prayers.
"Being out here in the middle of the ocean, I would be excused for not praying, but I still try to do the best I can."
Although he no longer worries about the direction, Friday prayers take place in a room in the ship's chapel.
Mr Mohammed also had the chance to take a day off over Eid and received special treatment during Ramadan, because he was fasting.
"During Eid I just decided to go to pray and then got back to work," he said.
"But in Ramadan, because we were in the Gulf and it was hot, my senior chief said I should do as little work as possible.
"Because I was fasting and could not have any water until sunset, he did not want me to dehydrate."
However, while Mr Mohammed is happy with the treatment he receives aboard ship, he is critical of the international media for its portrayal of Islam.
"Sometimes I feel that Islam is not fairly treated by the media," he said.
"All you see of Pakistan on CNN are protests, but that is not how I remember it to be.
"I don't remember any riots. When I was in third grade in Pakistan we used to say a prayer every morning before school.
"Our teacher used to say a prayer for the US soldiers because they were helping Kuwait."
Mr Mohammed hit out at terrorists who he says have hijacked Islam and falsely declared a holy Jihad against the West.
"If someone tries to stop me practising my religion and I retaliate, that is a Jihad," he said.
"But that is not what they did to the US on September 11. That was murder."
It would be better if he were a mole inside CAIR helping to destroy it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.