OU's Muslim Students Fearful After Explosion

AP ^ | 10/07/05 | AP

[Pikamax]

OU's Muslim Students Fearful After Explosion Authorities: No Evidence Hinrichs Had Ticket, Tried To Buy Ticket To Game

POSTED: 9:42 am CDT October 7, 2005 UPDATED: 11:11 am CDT October 7, 2005

NORMAN, Okla. -- Many Muslim students at the University of Oklahoma are laying low after rumors spread that a terrorist plot was behind a deadly explosion near a packed football stadium, Muslim leaders say.

"A lot of students are taking precautions, staying at home," said Houda Elyazgi, an officer with the Muslim Student Association. "I wear the scarf, so I fear for my security now because of all this speculation."

In an e-mail sent Thursday afternoon to students, faculty and staff members, OU President David Boren encouraged all not to "judge others or jump to conclusions about others on the basis of color, race, gender, economic status or freely exercised religious beliefs.

"To rush to judge others or make assumptions about them on that basis is nothing short of prejudice. It has no place in America and it certainly has no place at the University of Oklahoma."

Investigators believe the bomb blast that killed OU engineering student Joel Henry Hinrichs III, 21, was a suicide. Boren reiterated in the letter that there is "no evidence of a conspiracy involving others which creates an ongoing threat to our OU community."

Oklahoma Muslim leaders feared their community would be targeted after the explosion.

"When it first happened, we said, 'Oh, God. Here we go again,"' said Imad Enchassi, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City.

Enchassi remembered how suspicion fell on the Muslim community in the days after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, as did Boren, who noted that some speculated early on that the explosion that killed 168 people was the work of a Middle Eastern terrorist.

"As we all now know, the person responsible was not someone from the Middle East but was Timothy McVeigh and at least one other American who assisted him," the statement read. "We can only hope that all of us, including some media outlets, would have learned from that recent rush to incorrect conclusions."

At least four Muslim students were handcuffed and questioned after the OU explosion, and Muslim leaders fielded telephone calls from reporters.

Hinrichs' Pakistani roommate, Fazal M. Cheema, is Muslim, although not particularly religious, according to regulars at the Norman mosque.

Cheema worked at the football stadium, according to the OU student directory, and the men lived at Parkview Apartments, a university-owned property popular with Islamic students because it is adjacent to the local mosque.

Some media reported that Hinrichs spent time recently at the mosque, which was denied by the president of the mosque, who asked that his name not be used for fear of retaliation.

Hinrichs' father, Joel Hinrichs Jr., said this week his son was skeptical of ideology and was not Muslim.

Meanwhile, OU officials addressed allegations that Hinrichs had tried to enter the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, which sits about 100 yards from the spot where the explosion happened.

University spokeswoman Catherine Bishop said OU officials reviewed their ticket records and determined that Hinrichs, of Colorado Springs, Colo., didn't purchase a football ticket from any university outlet.

Bishop also said university officials hadn't heard anything to indicate Hinrichs tried to buy a ticket from one of the fans selling them outside the stadium.

The FBI has reviewed video surveillance tapes and, so far, haven't uncovered anything that indicates Hinrichs tried to enter, Boren said.

Norman police, however, reported that an officer became suspicious when he overhead Hinrichs trying to purchase ammonium nitrate fertilizer from a local feed and seed store two days before he died.

The manager of Ellison Feed and Seed said the store no longer carried that kind of fertilizer, which was used in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

As for the Muslim community, Elyazgi said it has been particularly difficult because Wednesday marked the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when the faithful fast from dawn to dusk.

"I'd rather be focusing on my fast and this joyous month than having to worry about my back," Elyazgi said.

[Spunky]

"Wasn't there something on another thread that said he was "Atheist" because he was angry at God for his hearing loss?"

I have read almost all the news reports and have not seen this said at all.

[ladyinred]

THEY'RE scared? The people of Norman should be scared about what lives among them, STILL!

[expatguy]

"...the basis of color, race, gender, economic status or freely exercised religious beliefs...[sic]"

One of these is not like the others. Can you guess which one?

[ladyjane]

I think one of the members of the local Muslim student organizations said this. It might have been the head of the group.

[Chode]

this place gets the heart pumping harder/faster than any exercise i know of sometimes...

[Chode]

or as the man said... "That's because we haven't played Cowboys and mooslimes yet!!!"

[Ros42]

Found it

[indcons]

They call you an infidel and then cut your head off...LOL

[Ros42]

ROFL!!

[OKIEDOC]

Enchassi remembered how suspicion fell on the Muslim community in the days after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, as did Boren, who noted that some speculated early on that the explosion that killed 168 people was the work of a Middle Eastern terrorist.

"As we all now know, the person responsible was not someone from the Middle East but was Timothy McVeigh and at least one other American who assisted him," the statement read. "We can only hope that all of us, including some media outlets, would have learned from that recent rush to incorrect conclusions."

At least four Muslim students were handcuffed and questioned after the OU explosion, and Muslim leaders fielded telephone calls from reporters.

Hinrichs' Pakistani roommate, Fazal M. Cheema, is Muslim, although not particularly religious, according to regulars at the Norman mosque.

REPLY:
That seems to be the standard line coming from the Muslims.

The white urban terrorist did it.

What they don't tell you is that he might not have tried the suicide bombing route had it not been for his Muslim enablers.

Hard to believe that the elitist Eastern press bought into the no Muslims helped Tim McVeigh or Terry Nichols.

If that is true, why did Nichols meet with a top Al Quieda official in the Philippians.

[Spunky]

Thanks for the link and then I went back and re-read your posting.

Geez! I need to go back to reading comprehension scHool as I had thought you were talking about Joel Henrich. I didn't realize it was Cheema you were talking about.

:-( BLUSH! BLUSH!

[Spunky]

Thanks for the link and then I went back and re-read your posting.

Geez! I need to go back to reading comprehension scHool as I had thought you were talking about Joel Henrich. I didn't realize it was Cheema you were talking about.

:-( BLUSH! BLUSH!

[Lauretij2]

Gotta purge this infection somehow. Why are they even here?

[OKIEDOC]

I remember reading after 9-11 that Oklahoma City University had one of the highest foreign student bodies in America.

They were fearful that student visas would be pulled and that would adversely affect the University.

The reason that Muslims have not been brought into this by the University has nothing to do with protection of civil rights.

It has everything to do with the potential loss of millions of dollars in scholarship monies received by the University each year.

[PhiKapMom]

What I think of them and that mosque in Norman is not fit to put on this thread. His roommate had the nerve to say he didn't know the kid was into making bombs with bomb making material all over the apartment.

This article makes me want to throw up. Notice how they are concerned about their safety -- Why, they are not connected and bomber wasn't a Muslim? (sarcasm)

Immediately they knew the MO -- shame Boren hasn't figured it out and is now telling everyone to be nice to these people -- same type that partied on the night of 9-11. Religion of Peace -- year right!

[bdfromlv]

Why would a devout muslim ever say "Oh God" any time muslims only use the term "ALLAH" like their profit.

[Marysecretary]

Or he could have gotten him a ticket. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure all this out. (My dad used to get us in free all the time...)

[Palladin]

Does OK allow concealed carry? (I imagine it would, being right next door to Texas).

Everyone in Norman should be carrying this weekend.

[RinaseaofDs]

The course for them is clear:

Form up your own battalions and enlist. Out their intelligence and finance people.

In short, help us help you.

You scared some red neck with a shotgun is going to take a pot shot? I'm afraid someone is going to drop a light bulb full of plague bacteria on a sidewalk somewhere in Manhattan.

The second these goat fornicators help us end this war, the safer we are all going to feel.

[PhiKapMom]

Only if you buy season tickets are they through the Bursar Office. You can buy a ticket from any number of the scalpers on campus not to mention you can get student tickets that are not picked up by walking up to a window and purchasing them. You can pay cash and thus no record.

Only records kept are for season ticket purchasers. I even received an email this week telling I hadn't used all my season tickets (used 4 out of 5) and they wanted to know if I knew I hadn't used all. Never have received an email like that before. My 5th ticket is in the bottom of my bag I take to the games.