Nearby, Fatin Guzlan and Sally Selim, of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, handed out dates, a traditional Muslim treat. "We're here to explain that we're Americans, too, and that Sept. 11 was a double whammy for us," said Selim. "It hit us as Americans and it hit our religion."
The Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has fielded calls from Muslims in the Delaware Valley who reported they’ve been victimized. Many reported incidents involve hiring practices and workplace issues. With the poor economy and heightened competition for jobs, having the name Muhammad or Fatima can be a real disadvantage, said Rugiatu Conteh, outreach and communications director for CAIR in Philadelphia.
The attacks of 9/11 were definitely an attack on the American-Muslin Community,” said Moein Khawaja, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ (CAIR) Philadelphia chapter. “I think the attacks tarnished … the Muslim community. In the aftermath, it produced an unnecessary hatred. But I believe that with the death of Osama bin Laden, I am confident we have seen an end to the terror that plagued this nation and the Muslim community. I feel like al-Qaida attacked me twice, once by murdering so many fellow citizens, but the second time by smearing my faith.
"We do get calls, 'Hey, I've been asked to be an informant - I've been asked to record the Friday sermons of my imam and pass them along to the FBI,' " said Moein Khawaja, 28, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Philadelphia, a civil-rights advocacy organization. "A lot of these people are immigrants," he continued. "They'll say, 'Look, I'm a student, I'm an immigrant, I just want to get by and get my work done, and the FBI says this is what will happen to me if I don't do it.'
Moein Khawaja, executive director of the Philadelphia chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, also has seen an uptick in anti-Muslim sentiment. Twenty-five percent of federal employment discrimination cases are from Muslim-Americans, he said. He also said the council has heard from Muslim students in eastern Pennsylvania who said they were made uncomfortable at school. In one case, a teacher made an anti-Islam remark and the student did not want to go back to class, Khawaja said.
"I kept thinking 'Please, please don't let it be Muslims, because if it is, this changes everything.' And sure enough, it did,'" remembers Moein Khawaja. Today, Khawaja is the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Philadelphia chapter. He says the initial shock, pain and anger he felt when the terrorists turned out to be Muslim extremists has stayed with him. "To this day, I feel like al-Qaida attacked me twice, once by murdering so many fellow citizens, but the second time by smearing my faith," he said.
“9/11 impacted the American Muslim community in two ways. The attacks were on our country and faith. As we grieved for the lives of the innocent, we had to deal with our faith being tarnished. It has been a challenge for many Muslims; however, 9/11 did start a national conversation about Islam’s place in America. After 10 years, I am confident that the conversation has reinforced our nation’s pluralism.” - Rugiatu Conteh, Outreach and Communications Director, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Philadelphia Chapter
"... 9/11 hit us twice. First of all, our country was attacked. Muslim-Americans also died in the towers. Also, our faith was tarnished. We've always wanted to share in the loss [of the people who died in the attacks] with fellow citizens, but we've always encountered doubt and suspicion. My organization started in 2005 precisely because community leaders had seen an increase in backlash - in school bullying, workplace backlash."
Moein Khawaja appears on the Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane to discuss 9/11’s impact on American Muslims - WHYY (90.9 FM) - Philadelphia's NPR station.
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