Muslim students fear retaliation
By Tom Carpenter and
Icess Fernandez
Daily Cougar Staff
In the wake of the most diabolical terrorist attacks in the history
of the United States, UH faculty and students expressed the importance
of American officials learning the identity of those responsible for the
crimes. Americans themselves were urged to refrain from reacting to the
tragedy with acts of bigotry and prejudice against innocent people.
Sophomore university studies student Benson Samuel, a native Houstonian
of Indian heritage, said he was "catching tons of s***" Tuesday because
he had dark skin.
"Everyone is going home because (they are) worried about their safety,"
Samuel said. "We're lumped into one group because we're dark-skinned with
a common heritage."
Samuel said he heard many students, Caucasian and black, make disparaging
remarks to him as he walked past them on his way to the University Center
after news of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks was shown on
television.
"Basically, I can't walk around campus and head to class because I don't
feel safe," Samuel said.
Samuel was not alone in his fear. Former president of the Muslim Student
Association Ismail Jafri, a senior management information systems major,
said he too had been subjected to harassment and racial slurs as he walked
to the UC.
"I'd like to express my sincere thoughts of sorrow to the families and
victims in New York and Washington," Jafri said. "Pointing fingers and
harassing innocent people won't solve anything. It's wrong to take a reactionary
approach."
Jafri pointed out that nobody knows the identity of the attackers.
"It's not confirmed. Even if (the culprits were Muslim), it doesn't
matter. It's all about humanity. We should focus on the injured, not reacting
to tragedy."
Freshman engineering major Naziha Alcon likened the reaction on campus
to the aftermath of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building
in Oklahoma City.
"I want to feel safe. It's ironic that I should be feeling for the people
who were injured and killed, but I have to worry about myself," Alcon said.
A sophomore student of Iraqi descent (who agreed to speak to The Daily
Cougar only on condition of anonymity) talked about an incident following
a political science class where Tuesday's attacks were discussed.
The student, who said both he and his parents were born in the United
States, had made a statement about the U.S. government supporting the murder
of thousands of Muslims, whether in Bosnia, Afghanistan or Chechnya.
"I was about to get attacked by a group of white students outside my
classroom. They cursed at me and told me to come and f****** speak up now,
and told me to go back to throwing rocks and go home."
The class's instructor, Professor Harrell Rodgers, accompanied the student
from the classroom to the UC at the student's request.
"I just think he made a mistake in judgment," Rodgers said of the exchange
in class. "We were talking about what happened today, and he said he didn't
want to be insensitive, but he held America responsible for the slaughter
of Palestinians."
"He said something to the effect that he felt America was getting its
due or something. At that point I told myself that was inappropriate to
say at that time. I felt it wasn't a good idea for him to say that on this
particular day."
"When I escorted him out of the building, some students said, 'Come
over here and let's talk about it,' but not in a threatening way. I think
they wanted to argue the point with him," Rodgers said.
"Even the Supreme Court has recognized the principle of 'fighting words,'"
he said. "There are circumstances in which things are highly inflamed,
and you may cause a real problem when emotions are running high. I just
wanted to make sure we didn't have a problem. I don't think anybody wanted
to attack him."
Elaborating on the feelings he expressed in class, the student said,
"Nobody cares (about the deaths of Muslims overseas). It doesn't make the
news headlines, and it's a hush-hush thing. But as soon as 35,000 to 50,000
Americans die, it's a big deal."
He made it clear that if the terrorists do prove to be from the Middle
East, he does not support the attack.
"It's not a representation of Islam or Muslim people," he said. "At
the same time, America should have seen this coming, because for many,
many years they've been supporting, with American tax dollars, aid to countries
which kill innocent civilians.
"I think if Americans knew where their tax dollars are going, they wouldn't
be as unsympathetic as they are right now. I do sympathize with the people
who died, but at the same time America has to understand that they had
this coming.
"I do hope there are no more attacks, but I would be really amazed to
find out if it was someone from the American population who was responsible
for this," he said, referring to the fact that immediately after the 1995
Oklahoma City bombing, there was a lot of mistaken speculation that the
culprits were Middle Eastern.
"Those same people who threatened me after class, I'd like to see the
reactions on their faces (if) they find out it was one of them," he said.
The UH Police Department increased its presence on campus Tuesday in
the wake of the day's tension.
"We have increased our patrol," said watch commander Lt. Rita Bazile.
"We are more on alert."
Harassment of Muslim students has not been reported, Bazile said.
UH Police Chief Bob Wilson encourages any student who faces harassment,
intimidation or threats to report it to his office.
"We won't tolerate that for a heartbeat," Wilson said. "They (Muslims)
are entitled to the same rights and privileges as you and I are as citizens
and they certainly deserve our protection."
"Frankly, I'm amazed to hear about threats being made against them.
If anyone receives any threats, we certainly want to hear about it," Wilson
said.
Karima Benremouga, director of UH's language laboratory, tried to give
perspective on Tuesday's events and the reactions to them.
"This is a terrible tragedy, not only for the U.S., but for the entire
world. Like most Americans, and especially Arab-Americans, I am angry,
sad and horrified," Benremouga said.
"We try to teach understanding and respect for people of all races and
religions and something horrible happens.
"It is incomprehensible how any group is capable of committing such
a heinous crime against what I consider the most hospitable, democratic
and open country in the world.
"Will our teaching withstand the message sent by such terrible terrorist
attacks? Only time will tell."
Kashif Mumtaz, religion advisor and spokesperson for the Muslim Students
Association, and Irtiza Hasan, educational advisor and council member of
the Muslim Students Association, were also upset when hearing about the
events on the East Coast.
"I saw the footage and shivers went down my spine," Hasan said. "We
have a sick feeling."
But that feeling is only the beginning of what is anticipated to be
a rough time for Muslims. Hasan recalled the aftermath of the last major
terrorist attack on American soil.
"We remember when Oklahoma City was bombed," said Mumtaz. "Muslims were
attacked."
As the sketchy details trickled in from New York and Washington, leaders
of the Muslim Student Association said they have already felt stares and
harassment from other students on campus.
However, the MSU representatives said they understand the fears and
the misconceptions of fellow students.
"We can't hold people into account. It's natural. It's not right, it's
wrong, but it's a human tendency," Mumtaz said. "We're American as apple
pie. But when people look at us, we are 'brown guys.'"
The MSA representatives said they hope to combat negative stereotypes
through education.
"We want to spread awareness," said Hasan. "We want to let people know
that we are against what happened."
