Muslims share fear, grief

By Megan Finnerty
Features Editor

As Hanan Gabal walked through campus Tuesday and Wednesday, she could feel students staring at her, picking her out of the crowd as a Muslim because of the head-covering she wears for religious reasons.

"You can read people's faces," said the sophomore in the School of Education whose family moved here from Egypt when she was young.

"You can feel the blame. I feel sad that any time anything like this happens they think it's terrorists, and they think terrorists are automatically Arab or Muslim."

Just as they expressed grief for the thousands feared dead following Tuesday's attacks, many Arab and Muslim students expressed fear and concern for their own community Wednesday night at a meeting with area police.

The meeting at the Greater Lafayette Islamic Center was requested by members of the center so they could learn safety tips and how to respond should they become victims of racist or prejudice retaliation.

Members of the center estimate that Purdue has about 600 Muslim students, staff and faculty members. No hate crimes or racist acts have been reported to Purdue or West Lafayette police, according to the two departments.

Representatives from the Purdue and West Lafayette police departments, International Students and Scholars and the Dean of Students offices spoke to a room filled with more than 100 Muslim students and community members.

Many faces were tight with grief and worry; others were full of fear and uncertainty. Police representatives assured those in attendance that any form of hate crime, prejudice, or threatening speech would not be tolerated.

While all the speakers emphasized that community members are responsible for keeping themselves safe by traveling together and paying attention to their surroundings, speakers said that the University and area police will do all they can to ensure the protection of all groups.

Capt. Steve Dietrich of the Purdue Police said the department is happy to help answer any questions members of the Muslim community might have about safety, legal issues or other concerns.

"We will not tolerate anyone being hurt because of this," he said emphatically. "We are not going to tolerate any mass hysteria or mass stereotyping."

Representatives from the police departments said that during the Iran-Contra affair during the Reagan administration and the Oklahoma City and World Trade Center bombings, the community did not experience any patterned attacks on Muslims or Arabs.

Mike Brzezinski, director of International Students and Scholars, reminded those crowded into the meeting area that Purdue has many offices and services available to anyone who has questions about safety or who wants counseling.

As women walked into the meeting room, they shared stories of friends and relatives threatened or attacked across the country, their voices solemn and fearful.

Zeinab Tobaa, a local psychiatrist originally from Egypt, said she was worried about her son and daughter who attend Purdue. She could remember when, during the Gulf War, her daughter, Gabal, was harassed going to school.

"She doesn't remember, thank God, but it still hurts me," she said. "I feel like my sorrow is doubled today because people are blaming Muslims and Arabs for this and it is Americans who are hurt. I hurt for being an American and for being a Muslim."

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Features editor:
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