Alarming Rise In Hate Crimes Against American Muslims

[Prometheus Bound]

By Abdus Sattar Ghazali

22 May, 2010
Countercurrents.org

Recent weeks have witnessed a dramatic increase in violent acts against Arab and Muslim Americans. These incidents involve acts of domestic terrorism, vandalism, intimidation, and discriminatory campaign tactics.

A pipe bomb explodes outside the Islamic Center of Northeast Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, during the Isha/evening prayers (1).

The Islamic Association of Michigan (Masjid Umar-bin-Khattab) in Brownstown, Michigan, is vandalized twice this month (2).

An art exhibit by a Muslim graduate student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is defaced and vandalized (3).

An 18 year-old male is brutally beaten by officers from an Illinois Police Station in retaliation for his mother's attempt to file a complaint against the way her son had been treated (4).

In San Diego, a white man uses racial slurs during assault on Afghan-American taxi driver(5).

On the night of May 10, someone discreetly walked around the grounds of the Islamic Center of Northeast Florida, in Jacksonville, carrying a gas can which he quickly lit and ran away. Minutes later, as more than 60 people prayed inside, the pipe bomb exploded in a ball of flames and set part of the building on fire. Thankfully, nobody was injured and the fire was put out by frightened worshippers using a fire extinguisher. Currently, the FBI is investigating the incident as a possible act of domestic terrorism.

<snip>

Not surprisingly, the attack has received little to no attention from the national media outlets. Media coverage has for the most part been restricted to Florida and that there have been no public condemnations of the bombing at the national level. If the fire bombing had taken place against a church or synagogue, it would have made national headlines within hours.

However it may be pointed out that these attacks come in a much wider context of anti-Muslim campaign. After the Times Square incident individuals have sought to score cheap political points by manipulating Americans’ heightened concerns over national security.

More: http://www.countercurrents.org/ghazali220510.htm
http://www.musalmantimes.com/?p=197

[undeterred]

1. Wow. I can't believe this hasn't gotten more coverage.

It would if it happened at a Synagogue or a Church during services.

[kestrel91316]

2. Well, you have to expect this sort of righteous anger when a muslin

steals the presidency........


:sarcasm:

[burnsei sensei]

3. These attacks are not what Westerners

should be doing in the presence of Islam.
To attack Muslims is wrong.
To subject Islam to a fair Western critique, I.E. the film, "Submission" or the attempts to draw Muhammad, count as nothing when contrasted with the direct attacks on the persons and property of Muslims in a democratic society.
This unchecked hooliganism, particularly under the collar of authority, must be stopped.

[Doctor_J]

4. King Glenn's subjects

This is the first I have heard of any of these.

They'll be coming for the rest of us soon too - anyone who doesn't think that Fox "News" is Gospel

[DavidDvorkin]

5. Completely unsurprising

Even if the media covered this more widely, I bet that general the public wouldn't care.