Muslim Americans complain that in the aftermath of the 9/11 incidents the definition and face of a terrorist became distinctly Muslim, making some followers of the faith targets of hateful words and acts, while making it difficult for others to keep jobs, go to school or even board a plane.
“9/11 made things worse. It added a lot on our shoulders. It brought stereotypes and bad policies in front and there were already bad policies in the past,” Nihad Awad, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), told Press TV’s Erin Connors.
CAIR moved this week to ask the US Department of Justice to close loopholes that allow for profiling individuals based on their religion and national origin, something that some officials describe as ‘the way to a secure America’.
“The government has to act on active intelligent intelligence, not on racial religious profiling. It has shown over time to be ineffective and counterproductive,” Nihad emphasized.
Many observers maintain that acts of terrorism take place by members of other religions and ethnicities as well, but they are seldom labeled after their ethnic identity.
“It’s the act that defines what is illegal not the person or action,” said Sahar Aziz, who is on the Bill of Rights Defense Committee.
Aziz added that real national security has to start on the inside with plans that don’t just target one race or religion.
“It’s in everyone interests to support national security not in everyone’s interest to support racial profiling as a means to do so, it’s not effective,” she said.
Source: Press TV