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CHAPEL
HILL - When Azra Siddiqui walked out of class at 11 a.m. on September 11,
one of her friends ran up to her and said, "You guys didn't hijack the
planes did you?"
"If
I told you I'd have to kill you," said Siddiqui jokingly.
Only when
she went back to her dorm and turned on the news did she realize what her
friend meant.
"I
was in absolute shock. I could not believe what was going on. I could not
believe anyone could attack America," said Siddiqui.
After she
got over the shock of the event, Siddiqui realized that the bombings were
a terrorist act. Then she realized that the terrorists were Muslim.
"I
knew that Muslims in the U.S. would be discriminated against," said Siddiqui.
Siddiqui,
a junior at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been affected
by the bombings as every other American, but with one major difference.
"I
have a shadow following me. I am Muslim," said Siddiqui.
Following
the September 11 attacks, there has been a backlash of racism against many
Americans who look Arabic or Middle Eastern. There has also been racism against
people who practice the Islamic religion.
"On
the day of the attacks, my mother told me not to go anywhere alone,"
said Siddiqui. "We kept hearing rumors about Muslims being attacked and
harassed."
One occurred
at N.C. State University. A Muslim student attending an inter-faith vigil
on campus was spit on, said Siddiqui.
However,
Siddiqui wants people to understand that the attacks have nothing to do with
the Islamic faith.
"Terrorism
has no religion," said Siddiqui. "How can God support this? These
attacks were totally not Islamic."
The media
are partly to blame for giving a bad impression of the Islamic faith, said
Siddiqui. She added that the major misconception is the terrorists attacked
America in the name of God.
"Jihad
is a form of the Muslim faith and means to fight in the name of God if your
religion is threatened," said Siddiqui. "But if you do fight, you're
not supposed to kill women, children, elderly people or even men without weapons.
This has not been clarified in the media."
Despite
the growing racism against Muslims, Siddiqui continues to be proud of her
Islamic faith.
"I
respect the American flag like anyone else," said Siddiqui. "I wish
Bin Laden would come on T.V. and say, 'I'm not Muslim-I'm psycho.' These attacks
are hurting so many Muslims."
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