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A REPORT released this week has at last confirmed what we Muslim Americans have long known to be true: the threat posed to US national security by the radicalisation of its Muslim community is minuscule.
The study, by the Triangle Centre on Terrorism and Homeland Security, found that only 20 Muslim Americans were charged with violent crimes related to terrorism in 2011, and of the 14,000 homicides recorded in the United States in that year, not one was committed by a Muslim extremist.
We are thrilled that an objective, comprehensive investigation has revealed that only a tiny percentage of American Muslims support violent acts. However, we remain concerned that the greater danger to America’s civic union comes from an increasingly organised campaign that portrays all Muslims as potential terrorists and traitors.
Yes, there may be some Muslims who resort to violence; but it’s clear that these individuals signify nothing more than a statistical aberration, and are no more representative of the Muslim community as a whole than Timothy McVeigh, Jared Lee Loughner or Anders Behring Breivik represent Christianity.
In recent years a network of politically motivated special interests has emerged that is determined to stigmatise and marginalise Muslims in all areas of American public life. After the Cordoba Initiative’s proposal to build an Islamic community centre near Ground Zero was distorted into a manufactured controversy by one such group, we were called “stealth jihadists” and “wolves in sheep’s clothing”.
One person even claimed: “They seem like nice people now, but they will probably turn into extremists in 10, 15, or 20 years.”
What began as the work of fringe groups with racist ideologies has moved into the mainstream. The Islamophobic film The Third Jihad was played continuously between training sessions for new recruits to New York’s police. The film-makers were linked to an organised movement with a budget of more than $40m and sophisticated lobbying efforts in all 50 states.
Republican congressman Peter King – even as opponents questioned his own ties to IRA and Catholic terrorism in Ireland – convened a series of congressional hearings on the radicalisation of American Muslims that can only be described as a witch hunt. And on the campaign trail, Republican presidential candidates from Herman Cain to Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum have used their platform to demonise American Muslims and question our loyalty to our country. It was not always this way.
Following the 9/11 attacks President Bush, at the Islamic Centre of Washington, said: “The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam … When we think of Islam we think of a faith that brings comfort to a billion people around the world… America counts millions of Muslims amongst our citizens, and Muslims make an incredibly valuable contribution to our country.”
Our allies in the interfaith and civil rights communities are working to counteract the fabricated opposition to Islam that is gaining strength in America today. n
The writer is executive director and co-founder of the American Society for Muslim Advancement and and co-founder of the Cordoba Initiative.
- The Guardian, London
Despite all of these, Muslims still wants to migrate to the West. LOL !!!!
in eleven years since the 911 attacks, I have not been even remotely bothered by anyone because of my faith. Maybe it is because I don't wear my religion on my sleeve.
I have a fundamental problem with the term Muslim American, or any other hyphenated American. I am an American, period. I am also a number of other things; a Golfer, of South Asian ethnicity, a San Francisco 49er fan, an Engineer by profession, a dad, a husband, and yes a Muslim. But, my nationality is American. Not Muslim-American, not Pakistani American, not Golfer-American, not Right handed, fifty plus, 49er fan-American. Just plain and simple American. End of story.
Brilliant sir !!!!!
your nationality may be American( I agree) but ( as you say) your identity is not just American.
only twenty muslims were charged with terrorism in usa simply because it has adopted stringent measures to protect itself from potential terrorists.It is like saying …look i did not catch cold while around so many sick people… but forget to mention that I was wearing mask all the time and washing hands frequently and never touched my nose or eyes etc.
prevention is better than cure…as always
I agree with your article in general, though your comparison between Muslim Extremists and Timothy McVeigh is flawed. McVeigh did not commit his heinous act of terrorism as a Christian for Christianity in the name of Christianity. He was universally condemned by the Christian community. He was arrested, tried, and was executed for his crimes.
Osama bin Laden had (and continues to have) a substantial following in the Muslim community. He was supported for years inside a Muslim nation after committing one of the most horrible, vicious, and cold blooded acts of terrorism in world history. He was never arrested or killed by Muslims. It is hard to think of a single instance where a Muslim will say that 9/11 was wrong and leave it at that. They often come back with some reason why we deserved it though, in a sense trying to justify it (for example, this articles comparison to Timothy McVeigh). It would serve the Muslim community in the U.S. much better to leave off these flawed comparisons.
I am a Muslim. I am saying 9/11 was wrong. Period.
Imram, Thank you.
OK so you dont like the comparison with Timothy Mcveigh. How about Adolf Hitler (remember him?). He was a Christian and he murdered millions on the basis of religion didn't he?
are you talking about 20 million christian russians that died in the war to bring Hitler to his feet, or the countless allied forces christians that died fighting Nazis?
Sadly, you've just proven my point.
I too, say 9/11 was terribly wrong and I am a Muslim. Period
Why do we need a mosque in close proximity of Ground Zero, particularly when it is likely to bring scorn from visitors? Why do we need to revisit the trauma everyday?
Yes. But what we Muslims living in North America doing about this propoganda capmagin? Sitting back in our living rooms and talking loud about such alligations while having biryani, then going back, sleep and ern dollars?
Go out please, support local community organisations with the main stream and SHOW them what you really are, if you are something. Stop complaining and start acting.
Unfortunately, your observation is correct. And worse folks ae still not doing enough, like what you have suggested.