Rex Murphy: Testing America’s tolerance

[Catty1]

http://islam.about.com/blvictims.htm

Muslim Victims of September 11th Attack

Inna li-lahi wa inna li-layhi raja'un.

From Allah we come, and to Him is our return.

Thousands of innocent lives were lost on September 11, 2001, and our hearts and prayers go out to their families and loved ones. For several hundred of the victims of 9/11, grief and sorrow has been compounded by constant suspicion, bias, hatred, and attacks on the faith they hold dear.

Imagine being the family of Salman Hamdani. The 23-year-old New York City police cadet was a part-time ambulance driver, incoming medical student, and devout Muslim. When he disappeared on September 11, law enforcement officials came to his family, seeking him for questioning in relation to the terrorist attacks. They allegedly believed he was somehow involved. His whereabouts were undetermined for over six months, until his remains were finally identified. He was found near the North Tower, with his EMT medical bag beside him, presumably doing everything he could to help those in need. His family could finally rest, knowing that he died the hero they always knew him to be.

Or imagine being Baraheen Ashrafi, nine months pregnant with her second child. Her husband, Mohammad Chowdhury, was a waiter at Windows of the World restaurant, on the top floors of Tower One. The morning of September 11, they prayed salaat-l-fajr (the pre-dawn prayer) together, and he went off to work. She never saw him again. Their son, Farqad, was born 48 hours after the attacks -- one of the first 9/11 orphans to be born. In an interview with CTV Canada, she relates that in the months to follow, she mourned for her husband and endured the hostility of some ignorant people around her. "When they saw me ... I'm wearing a scarf. There is a hate look."

Or consider Rahma Salie, a passenger on American Airlines #11 that crashed into the North Tower. Rahma, a Muslim of Sri Lankan origin, was traveling with her husband Michael (a convert to Islam) to attend a friend's wedding in California. Rahma was 7 months pregnant with their first child. According to the Independent UK (October 11, 2001), Rahma's name was initially put on an FBI watch list, because her "Muslim-sounding" name was on the passenger manifest, and her travel patterns were similar to those of the hijackers (she was a computer consultant living in Boston). Although her name was eventually removed from the list, several of her family members were barred from taking flights to her memorial service. Her mother, Haleema, said, "I would like everyone to know that she was a Muslim, she is a Muslim and we are victims too, of this tragic incident.”

Partial List of Muslim 9/11 Victims:

Note: This list is as yet incomplete and unconfirmed. It has been compiled from the Islamic Circle of North America, the Newsday victims database, and reports from other major news organizations. The victims' ages, employers, or other personal information is included when available, along with links to further information or photos.

Samad Afridi
Ashraf Ahmad
Shabbir Ahmad (45 years old; Windows on the World; leaves wife and 3 children)
Umar Ahmad
Azam Ahsan
Ahmed Ali
Tariq Amanullah (40 years old; Fiduciary Trust Co.; ICNA website team member; leaves wife and 2 children)
Touri Bolourchi (69 years old; United Airlines #175; a retired nurse from Tehran)
Salauddin Ahmad Chaudhury
Abdul K. Chowdhury (30 years old; Cantor Fitzgerald)
Mohammad S. Chowdhury (39 years old; Windows on the World; leaves wife and child born 2 days after the attack)
Jamal Legesse Desantis
Ramzi Attallah Douani (35 years old; Marsh & McLennan)
SaleemUllah Farooqi
Syed Fatha (54 years old; Pitney Bowes)
Osman Gani
Mohammad Hamdani (50 years old)
Salman Hamdani (NYPD Cadet)
Aisha Harris (21 years old; General Telecom)
Shakila Hoque (Marsh & McLennan)
Nabid Hossain
Shahzad Hussain
Talat Hussain
Mohammad Shah Jahan (Marsh & McLennan)
Yasmeen Jamal
Mohammed Jawarta (MAS security)
Arslan Khan Khakwani
Asim Khan
Ataullah Khan
Ayub Khan
Qasim Ali Khan
Sarah Khan (32 years old; Cantor Fitzgerald)
Taimour Khan (29 years old; Karr Futures)
Yasmeen Khan
Zahida Khan
Badruddin Lakhani
Omar Malick
Nurul Hoque Miah (36 years old)
Mubarak Mohammad (23 years old)
Boyie Mohammed (Carr Futures)
Raza Mujtaba
Omar Namoos
Mujeb Qazi
Tarranum Rahim
Ehtesham U. Raja (28 years old)
Ameenia Rasool (33 years old)
Naveed Rehman
Yusuf Saad
Rahma Salie & unborn child (28 years old; American Airlines #11; wife of Michael Theodoridis; 7 months pregnant)
Shoman Samad
Asad Samir
Khalid Shahid (25 years old; Cantor Fitzgerald; engaged to be married in November)
Mohammed Shajahan (44 years old; Marsh & McLennan)
Naseema Simjee (Franklin Resources Inc.'s Fiduciary Trust)
Jamil Swaati
Sanober Syed
Robert Elias Talhami (40 years old; Cantor Fitzgerald)
Michael Theodoridis (32 years old; American Airlines #11; husband of Rahma Salie)
W. Wahid

[Catty1]

The whole article is well worth reading.

http://www.islamfortoday.com/america09.htm

There are 5 million to 7 million Muslims in the United States. They make up between 10,000 and 20,000 members of the American military.

[Lady's Human]

There are several mosques within a 10 block radius of ground zero. Should they be shuttered?

[pomtzu]

There are several mosques within a 10 block radius of ground zero. Should they be shuttered?

Not at all, and they were probably there before 9/11. The people who are opposed to the location of a new one, are simply offended by the implication. It's as tho the Muslims are thumbing their nose at the masses, and showing the world, that they can get away with anything in any country that they please, even the mighty U.S.
So build another mosque if you must - just not in this sensitive location. An ecumenical gathering place would be more welcomed, than any mosque, church, temple, synagogue, or whatever.

[Grace]

Candace - thank you for your posts, #116 and 117.

I think we need reminding that people of all faiths were greatly impacted by 911.

[pomtzu]

So build another mosque if you must - just not in this sensitive location. An ecumenical gathering place would be more welcomed, than any mosque, church, temple, synagogue, or whatever.

I think we need reminding that people of all faiths were greatly impacted by 911.

Exactly, and that's why I think an ecumenical gathering place would be welcomed by all.

[Lady's Human]

The Mosque in NYC probably won't happen at that location, as the Local Unions are against it. If you can't get the Ironworkers, Carpenters, and IBEW to lift a finger to build it, it's not going to happen.

That having been said, I am deeply disturbed by the opposition to this. If they can't build it because of their religion, which religion is the next target?

Are you going to ban churches in downtown OKC? After all, the perps there were 'Christian' terrorists.

[pomtzu]

Are you going to ban churches in downtown OKC? After all, the perps there were 'Christian' terrorists.

And that was a 2-man show, not a huge conspiracy, years in the making, by a deranged leader of terrorists not even living in this country. I don't even equate the two. And is it known that McVey and Nichols were Christian? OKC was a tragedy of course, but can't compare in the enormity of the Twin Towers. Okay - everyone can slam me for that one if you will - but no disrespect was intended. Even the death of one person by any terrorist, is totally unacceptable and deplorable.
I am not singling out any religion, but personally feel that a neutral facility of some sort, would be appropriate and acceptable at the site where they want this mosque built. Simple as that..............

[Grace]

And is it known that McVey and Nichols were Christian?

About McVeigh - from an interview with TIME magazine, back in 2003 -

Time: Are you religious?

McVeigh: I was raised Catholic. I was confirmed Catholic (received the sacrament of confirmation). Through my military years, I sort of lost touch with the religion. I never really picked it up, however I do maintain core beliefs.

Time: Do you believe in God?

McVeigh: I do believe in a God, yes. But that's as far as I want to discuss. If I get too detailed on some things that are personal like that, it gives people an easier way [to] alienate themselves from me and that's all they are looking for now.

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