Originally published in NewsDay Sept. 11 changed everything — for America and its Muslims. Thousands were killed in the attack — nearly 500 from Long Island — leaving scores of families and friends with gaping wounds. And for Muslims, who were average Americans a day earlier, public scrutiny bore down like never before. In the 13 years since the terror attacks, Muslims: have...
Originally published in The Santa Clarita Valley Signal The United States government recently launched the Ahmadiyya Muslim Caucus chaired by veteran Republican Congressman Frank Wolf. The caucus will strive to secure religious freedom for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which suffers from severe persecution in some Muslim countries. Ahmadi Muslims number around 20,000 in America and tens of...
Originally published in MySanAntonio Re: “No target, motive ID’d yet in Pennsylvania school stabbings,” Nation, April 12: As an American-born Pakistani Muslim, I am all too familiar with the violence in Pakistan. But when an event of such violence occurs in this nation, it can be even more upsetting. It is with the heaviest of hearts that I extend my condolences to all those affected by the...
Originally published in The Duluth News Tribune On April 9 a terrible incident occurred at a Pennsylvania high school. A teenage boy wielding two kitchen knives went on a stabbing rampage and injured 21 people, including 20 students and one adult. I would like to extend my sincere condolences to all those who were harmed because of this tragedy. At the same time, I also would like to commend all...
Originally published in CantonRep Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev are the alleged perpetrators behind the Boston Marathon tragedy that took place last year, causing the deaths of three people and injuring 264 others. Dzhokhar claimed his brother said that these bombings were done to protect Islam from attack. I disagree. These attacks are completely opposite the teachings of Islam and are what...
Originally published in Dallas News Last week, the small town of Murrysville, Pa., was shocked when Alex Hribal, a 16-year-old high school student, went on a stabbing rampage, critically injuring 20 students. Fortunately, no student was fatally injured. However, a small place such as Franklin County definitely felt the distress caused by such a chaotic and horrible attack. This news shocked me...
Originally published in NewsOk It’s been a year since the Boston Marathon tragedy, which the perpetrators claimed was for the protection of Islam from the U.S. If this religion needs protection from anyone, it’s from the deranged minds and unholy tactics of men like these who distort the teachings of a religion that values peace above all else. The Koran clearly states, “Whosoever killed a person...
Originally published in Austin News It has been a year since the horrific Boston Marathon bombing, but the wounds are still fresh for all Americans. I would like to extend my condolences to the city of Boston and anyone with loved ones affected by these deplorable acts. Though the Tsarnevs claim to have acted for Islam, I must remind everyone that their actions went against everything for which...
Originally published in OnFaith Earlier this week, the NYPD disbanded its Muslim surveillance program. Good riddance. Through all the pain, suffering, and headlines this operation caused over the course of a decade, it generated zero leads. A decade of surveillance should have crushed anyone’s hope for a hopeful future. So how did New York Muslims cope in the past few years? In 2008, civic-minded...
Originally published in Duluth News Tribune One year removed from the Boston Marathon bombings, people raise eyebrows about Muslims’ loyalty to the United States or Islam’s viewpoint on terrorism. The bombings had no relationship with the beautiful teachings of Islam. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the bombings. The holy Quran condemns all forms of cruelty, violence or extremist...