In this Huffington Post op-ed, editor Antonia Blumberg writes about how the Muslim American community was “doubly traumatized” by the September 11th attacks — “first by the attacks themselves and then again by the violent backlash toward their communities that ensued.” She reports that this “misplaced retaliation” began immediately. “In 2002, FBI reported that incidents targeting people, institutions and businesses identified in some way with Islam increased by at least 1,60%. The report noted that prior to 2001, Muslims had been among the least-targeted religious groups.”
“One of the things I see that comes up repeatedly is about identity,” says Kameelah Rashad, the Muslim chaplain at the University of Pennsylvania. “Many students feel Muslims are the exception — that everyone else has freedom of expression and religion, but for Muslims we have to reassure everyone that our religion is in no way compelling us to kill people.”
