WASHINGTON, 13 September — The following is a synopsis of interviews to Arab-American and Muslim American leaders in the United States to Arab News. They speak out against the horrific events of yesterday, and the aftermath of attacks that have been made, and committed, by innocent Arab- and Muslim- Americans. And they support calls of retribution against those who committed yesterday’s horrific crimes against humanity.
Nihad Awad, executive director of CAIR, Council on American Islamic Relations:
“We have organized a blood drive today at George Washington University Hospital, urging Muslims nationwide to donate blood for the victims in yesterday’s terrorist attacks in Washington and New York. We are doing all we can, and are urging members of the Muslim-American community to do the best they can. And we are asking any professionals in the area to offer their services — nurses, doctors — anyone who can come forward and offer professional assistance.
“I just now received a phone call from a Muslim bookstore in downtown Alexandria, Virginia. The owner said his shop is being attacked and he called to ask what he should do. I told him to call the police, and we will send someone over immediately to be with him. “We are receiving reports of many attacks on Islamic centers, on ladies with hijabs, and on students. Most of the Islamic centers are closed down in the area. We are asking our people to stay at home, and to only go outside when they need to. We are also asking that our women, who are wearing hijab, should not go outside unescorted.
“Frankly we want to be careful about focusing on these attacks against Muslims in the US media, because we are worried that more crazy people will follow these examples. We just want to stress that people should not attack innocent victims, especially when we have no idea who committed these horrible atrocities.”
Ziad Asali, president of ADC, the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee:
“We have reports on anti-Arab, anti-Muslim attacks in Chicago, Detroit, Seattle, here, and in many places throughout the United States ? the unfortunate thing is that the immensity of the catastrophic damage that was inflicted on innocent people cannot go by without people reacting emotionally. People are mad at what they see as the source, which is what they see as Arab or Muslim, which is where they are directing their anger.
“The only problem is that we, as Americans ourselves, feel the pain of the horrific incident like all other Americans. We also have victims included in those tragedies. But we have the added burden of being victims in a community that has been pointed out in having a role in this. So we have a new vulnerability in this community.
“We are trying to contact everyone to document all the terrible things that are being said and done. And we are asking the American public to please understand that our community had nothing to do with this barbaric act, which we totally condemn. We are working with, and will continue to work with the local authorities everywhere, with the civic societies and the press to get through this crisis.
Dick Holmes, president of the US-Arab Chamber of Commerce:
“I think the media is going to have to play an important role to make sure that these attacks against Arab-Americans and Muslim-Americans does not get out of hand. We have to keep in mind that times are different now, and that things have changed, this is not 1967 (when Israel and the Arab world were at war, and there were many attacks against Arabs in the United States).
“There are, at least, 6 million US Muslims, and they need to demand their rights and the protection they deserve as Americans, and they are going to get it. I would be very surprised if there is any widespread reaction against any Arab-Americans and Muslim-Americans.
“We have also received some heated e-mails this morning, which we plan to ignore, because they are not worthy of response. I think anytime you get involved in public debate, you can’t be timid. I think most minorities have learned that they must exercise their rights as Americans, and I think Arab and Muslim Americans should be getting out front and center and articulating it.
“I think we just have to — in this aspect of this tragedy and crisis — we have to maintain our cool. I think it’s at moments like this that American Arab organizations, such as ours, are important.
Yes, we can expect some backlash against our communities, but my basic reaction is that things are so much better than they used to be in terms of the complexities of this issue, which are no longer viewed as black and white. It’s my belief that the Arab-American and the American Muslim communities are in much better shape than they have ever been. We now have Muslim chaplains in the US armed services; we have Muslims as policemen and firefighters.
Paul Findley, former US
representative from Illinois:
“What seems to be lacking here is the examination of grievance all of us ought to be prayerfully seeking the answer to the question why. Why did these fanatics kill themselves and countless innocent people?
What has the US done that would impel anyone to commit suicide? Where has the US government collectedgrievances so great as to provoke this dreadful counter attack?
“I have yet to hear anyone raise questions like this. And they must be raised, they must be examined, we must findsolid answers to those questions before we go around firing weapons at any place.
