Local Muslims believe they re feeling backlash from Sept. 11

Post-Tribune ^ | May 30, 2002 | Lisa Shidler

[TopDog2]

HAMMOND — Many members of the Northwest Indiana Muslim community have felt frightened and targeted for racial profiling since since Sept. 11.

The stories and feelings aren’t new, but what’s frustrating to Northwest Indiana Muslims is they had hoped the poor treatment might get better with time.

But they say it hasn’t.

Several residents spoke at a forum Wednesday at Purdue University Calumet sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s office. About 30 people attended the meeting set up to open communications between the Muslim, Arab and Sikh communities. The forum was a response to dozens of questions raised during a meeting at the Northwest Indiana mosque this spring.

The forum included several federal officials from the U.S. Attorney’s office, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, who discussed how their departments have changed since Sept. 11 to try to prevent a future attack.

“We’re trying to change the way we approach things,’’ said Joseph Van Bokkelen, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana. “If an act of terrorism occurs, we’re one moment too late. A lot of what we’re doing is a different way of thinking.’’

The forum also came on the heels of FBI Director Robert Mueller saying Wednesday that there may have been more missed clues before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and suggested for the first time that investigators might have uncovered the plot if they had been more diligent about pursuing leads.

Charles S. Porucznik, supervisory senior resident agent of the FBI in Merrillville, said local FBI agents have been keeping a close eye on the national scandal. He couldn’t discuss the specifics, but said the FBI is forming new strategies to battle terrorism in the future.

But local Muslims fear local officials and many Americans are overcome with fear of a future attack, and are retaliating against Muslims.

Ali Khan of the American Muslim Council held a speeding ticket in the air, and said it’s his second traffic violation since Sept. 11. Before that, he said his driving record was nearly impeccable.

He realizes traffic tickets are small issues compared to what some other Muslims are facing, but it still shows racial profiling occurring in Northwest Indiana, he said.

“I’m making an issue out of this. My sense of freedom has been lost since 911,’’ he said.

Van Bokkelen said officials must walk a balancing act to ensure safety of Americans and ensure that civil rights aren’t violated. “We’re trying to address it,’’ Van Bokkelen said. “But we’re taking baby steps.’’

[TopDog2]

Gee Ali, sorry your "sense of freedom" has been lost. Can you ever forgive us? (/sarcasm)

[Psalm 73]

If they're American citizens - leave 'em alone. If they're not - ship 'em back.

[hellinahandcart]

Ali Khan of the American Muslim Council held a speeding ticket in the air, and said it’s his second traffic violation since Sept. 11. Before that, he said his driving record was nearly impeccablehe had never been CAUGHT speeding before.

My fiance has gathered up about six parking tickets since 9/11. One of his grandfathers was Syrian. Maybe he should cry discrimination when he goes down to traffic court to try and get his fines reduced. Ya think?

[Lexington Green]

American Muslims have not come forth to defend this country... screw 'em

[TomGuy]

Ali Khan of the American Muslim Council held a speeding ticket in the air, and said it’s his second traffic violation since Sept. 11.

Solution: Try driving the posted speed limit. Duh!


Let another significant Islamic extremist terrorist attack happen on US soil, and you might wish profiling was your biggest problem.

[swarthyguy]

Ali Khan of the American Muslim Council held a speeding ticket in the air, and said it’s his second traffic violation since Sept. 11. Before that, he said his driving record was nearly impeccable.

HAHAHA! What a jerk.

[swarthyguy]

It's always about them and their grievances. Lots of nonmuslims had to deal with similar conditions. Only the muslims complain and whine; LOUDLY. Perhaps if they had focused on convincing Americans where they sympathies lay, ie. with the USA, people would not be looking crosseyed at them so much. However, all they did was point fingers primarily at the US and other oppressor nations like israel and india and russia. Idiots!

[Elkiejg]

American Muslims have not come forth to defend this country... screw 'em

DITTO, DITTO, DITTO. OR - if they don't like it - GET THE H*LL OUT OF AMERICA!

[swarthyguy]

Exactly. This country showed so much tolerance and understanding. Now, granted, vigilante justice is not admirable but NOT ONE MUSLIM was killed after 9/11. Sikhs, Hindus, Arab Christians and one poor Mexican man were.

[TADSLOS]

“I’m making an issue out of this. My sense of freedom has been lost since 911,’’ he said.

They want to get their sense of freedom back? Better start by turning state's evidence on the rest of their ruthless cult or their survivors will be indelicately shown the door out of our country the next time one of their own conducts an act of terror in our country. Be afraid. Be very afraid....and spread the word, we are a nation of gun owners and freedom lovers who will defend ourselves even when our government won't. We're tired of their crap. I don't care what crazy cult religion they practice. Be an American and help us defend what we stand for or suffer the consequences!

[Dimensio]

Hey, I think he's on to something. Since 9/11, I've not gotten a single speeding ticket. I'm white, don't look at all middle eastern. Could it be that the police are too busy handing out tickets to swarthy-looking dark-skinned drivers instead?

Sure, some skeptics might attribute it to the fact that I never drive ten miles per hour over the limit (at maximum), but I think that there's more sinister work afoot.

[Lady Jag]

Local Muslims believe they re feeling backlash from Sept. 11

Well, if they're not certain about it then it's not happening.   Move along folks....

[hellinahandcart]

Gee, I opened the thread thinking I was going to hear about death threats, physical intimidation, wrongful dismissal from jobs, refusal of service in public accomodations, taunts and jeers, dirty looks--and the best example of the "backlash" against Muslims is one guy with two SPEEDING TICKETS??

Christ, these people are thin-skinned.

[mhking]

I miss reading the P-T (dead tree version) every day. I try to get to the website every morning...

[B-1B-thejihadremedy]

American Muslims better start putting their country first, religion second. period.

[NativeNewYorker]

Many members of the Northwest Indiana Muslim community have felt frightened

GOOD!

[hillsborofox]

...they had hoped the poor treatment might get better with time.

I'm not at all surprised by this. My own contempt for Arabs and Muslims has grown substantially since 9/11; their continued hideous infractions all over the world, my increased knowledge of the "religion of peace", and the chilly, consenting silence of Arab Americans are the reasons why.

How they can expect anything but hostility in this country is the real question.

[VOA]

American Muslims better start putting their country first, religion second. period.

Hard to do when their influential co-congregants seek to bring the whole
freakin' planet under Shar'ia law.
The sheep of this herd are dangerous, even if simply by virtue of being human
shields for their radical brothers and sister.

[johnny7]

Sheeit! Frightened muslims! When a muslim is frightened they;

• A-Look for a belt of dynamite

• B-Go Jew hunting

• C-Take a one-way trip to DC

• D-All of the above

I would bet the bank on D.

[G.Mason]

"A hyphenated American is not an American at all. This is just as true of the man who puts 'Native' before the hyphen as of the man who puts German or Irish or French before the hyphen. Americanism is a matter of the spirit and of the soul. Our allegiance must be purely to the United States. We must unsparingly condemn any man who holds any other allegiance."

Theodore Roosevelt