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Muslim Community Fears Backlash After Ohio State Attack
NPR ^

Posted on 11/29/2016 7:23:33 AM PST by TigerClaws

At an off-campus coffee shop Monday, Ohio State University senior Mohamed Farah catches up on his homework.

"I didn't get a lot of work done today just because there's a lot going on," he says. "I tried to stay away from the news, but I kept going back to it."

Enlarge this image Ohio State University senior Mohamed Farah says his stomach fell when he heard the attacker was also a Somali refugee. Esther Honig/WOSU 89.7 Farah first learned of an attack on campus when security sent a text to the entire university: "Active shooter on campus: Run Hide Fight."

But the attacker did not use a firearm. According to police, he drove a car into pedestrians, then got out and attacked people with a butcher knife. Eleven people were injured before police shot and killed the suspect.

Farah says at first he feared for the safety of his friends and fellow students. Then, as more details were confirmed, his fears turned inward.

"When I first heard that he was Somali, I mean my stomach did fall," he says. "Not just because of what happened today, but because of what will happen tomorrow."

Police identified the suspect as Abdul Razak Ali Artan, who The Associated Press say was a refugee from Somalia.

Farah, who is a Somali refugee and a Muslim, says attacks blamed on terrorism have a familiar aftermath on campus: snide comments, peering eyes and a feeling of uneasiness.

Suspect Killed After Knife And Vehicle Attack At Ohio State University THE TWO-WAY Suspect Killed After Knife And Vehicle Attack At Ohio State University "Those Somali men and women, the ones that wear a head scarf or the ones like myself with the name Mohamed, tomorrow will be a day of trepidation," he says.

Looking through tweets, Farah says the negative ones from his fellow OSU students are the most painful, like one that says as a Somali refugee, Artan "bit the hand that fed him."

"That one really, it shakes the core of you, you know," Farah says.

At the moment little is known about Artan. Authorities believe he acted alone but they do not know the motives behind the attack. In August, the recent transfer student was interviewed by the school newspaper in a series called "Humans of OSU." Artan said he didn't feel comfortable praying on campus.

Enlarge this image Horsed Noah, director of one of the largest Islamic centers in Columbus, says when he heard about the attack he had one though: "I hope [the suspect] is not a Muslim." Esther Honig/WOSU 89.7 "If people look at me, a Muslim praying," he said, "I don't know what they're going to think."

Horsed Noah, director of one of the largest Islamic centers in Columbus, runs a youth group for Somali men and women. He says he didn't know Artan, but reading that interview, he thinks the young man had become isolated.

"That definitely should have been a red flashing light," Noah says.

Noah says when he first heard about the attack at OSU, he had one thought: "I was with my wife and I said, 'I hope he is not a Muslim.' "

On Monday, Noah held community meetings to calm parents and children who are scared to return to work and school. He says his community is as shocked as the rest of the country.

Today, classes at OSU resume.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't dreading it, but I don't think I'm going to skip class. I think I'm going to be there. I'm going to have conversations," Farah says. "I choose love. I affirm life.

Farah says he is as proud as ever to be a Buckeye.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Ohio
KEYWORDS: abdulrazakaliartan; backlash; jihad; jihadinamerica; muslimamericans; refugees; taqiya
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To: TigerClaws

The average muslim is about 10,000 times safer in the USA than in any islamic country on earth... for a whole host of reasons.


21 posted on 11/29/2016 7:30:58 AM PST by samtheman (Voted Trump)
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To: TigerClaws

Muzzies need to get a BlackLash.


22 posted on 11/29/2016 7:31:12 AM PST by Paladin2 (No spellcheck. It's too much wwork to undo the auto wrong word substitution on mobile devices.)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

“After every Muslim terror attack, the media bring out these stories, telling us how there are fears of backlash in the Muslim community.”

In a couple weeks, they’ll trot out the “backlash attacks are UP” articles based upon not-nice things allegedly said to or about muslims.


23 posted on 11/29/2016 7:31:22 AM PST by treetopsandroofs (Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)
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To: TigerClaws

I hope they live in constant fear.


24 posted on 11/29/2016 7:31:25 AM PST by Leep (Stronger without her!)
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To: TigerClaws
"Not just because of what happened today, but because of what will happen tomorrow."

Which is exactly nothing.

25 posted on 11/29/2016 7:32:24 AM PST by PGR88
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To: TigerClaws
... snide comments, peering eyes and a feeling of uneasiness.

That's horrible! The rest of us only have to fear that some Jihadist will kill us. /s

26 posted on 11/29/2016 7:32:38 AM PST by BitWielder1 (I'd rather have Unequal Wealth than Equal Poverty.)
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To: TigerClaws

That’s ok...the non-Muslim community continues to wonder when the next lone-wolf will strike.


27 posted on 11/29/2016 7:33:00 AM PST by ealgeone
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To: x1stcav
Knee-jerk response:

Muslim fanatic kills innocent people (Infidels)...

Muslim is killed during act of murder...

Muslims now afraid of “Islamophobia”...

Non-Muslims must UNDERSTAND their fears and traumas...

Non-Muslims must be careful not to offend Muslims so they won’t be called “Islamophobes”...

Muslims continue to kill innocents...

Repeat cycle...

28 posted on 11/29/2016 7:34:06 AM PST by Netz ( and looking for a way ti IMPROVE mankind.)
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To: TigerClaws

GOOD!


29 posted on 11/29/2016 7:34:06 AM PST by onedoug
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To: TigerClaws

Maybe Muslims should be doing more about the terrorists lash in their midst instead of spending all their time panicing over an imaginary backlash.


30 posted on 11/29/2016 7:34:06 AM PST by MNJohnnie (This revolt is not ending, it is merely beginning.- Pat Caddell)
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To: TigerClaws

Keep in mind, when he ran into the crowd with his car, he didn’t know if any victims were Muslims. The San Bernadino shooter killed a woman from his mosque. Shot her point-blank in the face.

These crimes are designed to invoke terror, not a religious outcome. They attack America, not religion. That’s why BLM is terrorism as well. Same motivation. They seek a political end.


31 posted on 11/29/2016 7:34:27 AM PST by AppyPappy (If you really want to irritate someone, point out something obvious they are trying hard to ignore.)
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To: TigerClaws

Islam has NEVER been compatible with any civilized society and NEVER will. Go Back Home and find a nice goat.


32 posted on 11/29/2016 7:35:03 AM PST by eyeamok (destruction of government records.)
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To: TigerClaws

If they are always fearing backlash, they should put a stop to the constant frontlash.


33 posted on 11/29/2016 7:35:16 AM PST by Migraine (Diversity is great- -- until it happens to YOU.)
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To: TigerClaws

Oh my...every time a muslim attacks and/or kills someone, all of the muslims starting crying about being threatened. Victim status. This simply HAS to stop. If a member of any one group of conservatives attacks or kills someone (tell when that has happened), NO ONE is going to accept victim status from conservatives. Put the shoe on the other foot and see what the reaction would be. These people are KILLING us or constantly attempting to kill us. They are NOT victims.


34 posted on 11/29/2016 7:36:11 AM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: All

These monsters have been coddled by the government, there is not epidemic of “islamophobia”.


35 posted on 11/29/2016 7:36:14 AM PST by Maverick68
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To: TigerClaws
Remember the sudden jihad syndrome some people have discussed here? I think that is a risk we have to take with Muslims (unfortunately!), especially most of them take the Qu'ran (and its related teachings) quite literally.
36 posted on 11/29/2016 7:36:28 AM PST by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
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To: TigerClaws

I would like if just one time when they were conducting these sob story interviews, they would ask the Muslim interview subject, “Do you believe in Sharia law? Would you rather have Sharia or American law? What should happen to someone who insults the prophet Mohammed? Do you identify more as a Muslim, a Somali or an American?”

Hearing the answers may give a little more background to the listener and help them determine if they should feel sorry for the person or not.


37 posted on 11/29/2016 7:37:13 AM PST by nitzy
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To: x1stcav

I think the “backlash” mantra is starting to lose its value...


38 posted on 11/29/2016 7:37:24 AM PST by goodnesswins (Say hello to President Trump)
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To: Steve_Seattle

Muslims fear backlash
= = =

Hey Achmed, we haven’t been getting any backlash lately.

Better repost that video. And get a butcher knife.


39 posted on 11/29/2016 7:38:49 AM PST by Scrambler Bob (Still shooting, but Calif is making me a felon.)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Yes, they do have pre-written stories ready to pop out whenever needed. They forget, however, to see if the story truly reflects the event. Which is why we are seeing liberals commenting today about gun control. Carelessness like that is inexcusable, but then I suppose they do not see any power in an anti-knife movement.


40 posted on 11/29/2016 7:39:03 AM PST by Gumdrop
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