2008 Woodie Awards
Middle Eastern students recall experiences
Elijah Turan
Issue date: 9/12/06 Section: News
As the United States remembers Sept.11, Lorain County
Community College Islamic students shared their views
and experiences as Muslim Americans.
Nuha Abedrabbo, an Islamic student, said that she has
experienced some prejudice after Sept.11.
"Not at LCCC,"she said, "but in general...after Sept. 11, yes...just bad comments sometimes."
She is not alone.
National police reports recorded more than 300 cases
of assault and harassment against Arab and Muslim
Americans within the first five days after Sept. 11.
One report included a fatality.
Sophia Ahmad, another Muslim student at LCCC, said
she believes that such incidents are the result of misunderstanding.
"Islam does not support terrorism. That is a misconception,"
she said, "Terrorism goes against Islam."
She also said she believes that many people misperceive
Islam's role on women's rights.
"They think that Islamic females are oppressed," she
said. "That is not true. Our dress is not a sign of oppression.
Nothing is forced in Islam."
When asked how to overcome such misperceptions,
student, Ahmad said, "The media needs to stop using
incorrect terms."
"'Islamic terrorist' is not a correct term, " she continued.
"If you commit terrorism, then you are not practicing Islam."
She also said she believes that cooperation is important.
"We must cooperate," she said, "because the U.S. is a
melting pot."
Myron Cshiblay, the Arabic language instructor at LCCC,
also said he feels that cooperation between ethnic and religious
groups is important.
"Human intelligence is key," he said.
If a terrorist comes from a certain ethnic or religious
background, he explained, other members of that background
will be the first to identify such a threat.
This would make cooperation with Muslim Americans
an important aspect of American safety, according to Cshiblay.
Ultimately, Ahmad said she believes that prejudice can be
overcome through education.
"People need education," she said. When asked what she would
teach people about her culture if she could, Abedrabbo said
that she would teach them "anything they want to know."
Community College Islamic students shared their views
and experiences as Muslim Americans.
Nuha Abedrabbo, an Islamic student, said that she has
experienced some prejudice after Sept.11.
"Not at LCCC,"she said, "but in general...after Sept. 11, yes...just bad comments sometimes."
She is not alone.
National police reports recorded more than 300 cases
of assault and harassment against Arab and Muslim
Americans within the first five days after Sept. 11.
One report included a fatality.
Sophia Ahmad, another Muslim student at LCCC, said
she believes that such incidents are the result of misunderstanding.
"Islam does not support terrorism. That is a misconception,"
she said, "Terrorism goes against Islam."
She also said she believes that many people misperceive
Islam's role on women's rights.
"They think that Islamic females are oppressed," she
said. "That is not true. Our dress is not a sign of oppression.
Nothing is forced in Islam."
When asked how to overcome such misperceptions,
student, Ahmad said, "The media needs to stop using
incorrect terms."
"'Islamic terrorist' is not a correct term, " she continued.
"If you commit terrorism, then you are not practicing Islam."
She also said she believes that cooperation is important.
"We must cooperate," she said, "because the U.S. is a
melting pot."
Myron Cshiblay, the Arabic language instructor at LCCC,
also said he feels that cooperation between ethnic and religious
groups is important.
"Human intelligence is key," he said.
If a terrorist comes from a certain ethnic or religious
background, he explained, other members of that background
will be the first to identify such a threat.
This would make cooperation with Muslim Americans
an important aspect of American safety, according to Cshiblay.
Ultimately, Ahmad said she believes that prejudice can be
overcome through education.
"People need education," she said. When asked what she would
teach people about her culture if she could, Abedrabbo said
that she would teach them "anything they want to know."
Be the first to comment on this story