From November 2001 NASW NEWS
Copyright ©2001, National Association of Social Workers, Inc.

Bias Against Muslims Battled

"What happened in September was an act of terrorism, not religion."

By Corinna Vallianatos, NEWS Staff

In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, some Middle Eastern Americans and immigrants are experiencing a backlash — in the form of suspicious looks, racist remarks, destruction of their property and physical violence — from a very small, but very hostile, segment of the public.

Hoda Amine, who holds a Ph.D. in social work, is a counselor at the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) in Dearborn, Mich. She said the center serves 75,000 of the roughly 400,000 members of the Arab community in Dearborn and surrounding areas, and it has never been as busy as it is now.

"We've been engaged in so many activities. First and foremost, we've been trying to educate the public. People have to understand that what happened in September was an act of terrorism, not religion. Just as all Christians are not Hitler or Timothy McVeigh, all Muslims are not terrorists."

She said that many of the clients who use ACCESS's counseling center come from countries racked by war and strife, already victims of post-traumatic stress disorder. Witnessing the attacks of Sept. 11 has induced flashbacks, paranoia and fear in many of them.

According to Amine, ACCESS has established stress-management classes, a crisis hotline and walk-in hours to provide community members with coping mechanisms whenever they need them.

"Knowledge is power, and lack of knowledge makes a person feel insecure," said Amine. "The first thing you do, when you try to educate people, is target the schools. Our children are terribly vulnerable to discrimination. Their headscarves are being snatched, they are being humiliated, called terrorists."

She said that ACCESS held a blood drive and candlelight vigil to show solidarity with the victims of September's attacks, but that many Arabs are so fearful for their lives they cannot yet begin the cathartic process of grieving. "At this time, I cannot even mourn. I am constantly on the defensive. I fear for my four children, who were all born in the U.S."

ACCESS has received numerous bomb threats, and staff members, including six social workers, are escorted to their cars by police.

"People are afraid to come out of their houses. They feel they may be targeted," Amine said.

Another social worker whose projects have taken on heightened gravity in the wake of the attacks is Christine Abdul, a master's student in social work and public administration at the University of Nebraska.

Abdul, who works at the Southern Sudanese Community Association, said Sudan is a country fractured by religion and civil war. The northern part of Sudan is largely Muslim. She too listed educating the public as a top priority.

"Many Sudanese are getting second glances, whether they're Muslim or not. We held a prayer vigil to show the public we're not the enemy."

Abdul said that she is conducting diversity training at her job, and she knows of many companies in Omaha that are, too. "I think there's a perception that Americans are the only ones who need education about diversity, but that's not true," she said. "People of all nationalities harbor suspicions about each other."

She recalled a woman coming to the Southern Sudanese Community Association and telling a story about a northern Sudanese man murdering her husband. "He just knocked on the door and shot her husband. After she's seen that, and witnessed Sept. 11, how is she going to trust anyone again?"

Abdul said that she's had the children at the community center make red, white and blue ribbons and talk about what hate is. "Kids are resilient," she said.

Surjit Singh Dhooper, a professor of social work at the University of Kentucky, has been made the victim of guilt by association. He said that as a follower of the Sikh faith from India, he wears a turban and has a beard. "There is the perception that anyone who wears a turban is a culprit," he said.

Dhooper said he has spoken with other Sikh families in his community about their experiences since Sept. 11 and has written a letter to the editor of the Lexington, Ky., paper condemning racism.

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