U.S.-born Muslim, repeatedly singled out and searched

---

As a private tutor of U.S. history, I see too many parallels with what I and many other American Muslims are facing today, and the discrimination of Jewish immigrants fleeing from Hitler in the 1930s, Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor and African-Americans in the 1960s.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: The Detroit News
By Deeana Ijaz | December 15, 2015

I recently had to file an appeal with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to prove that I am not a threat to my fellow Americans. I am told these appeals often go unresolved and that I may not be able to do anything about the way I am perceived by my government.

I am an American Muslim, born and raised in Southeastern Michigan. I’m a master’s candidate at Tufts University, and hope to affect change in our nation’s food policy. In the past two weeks, I have been stopped five times for what I am told are random selections.

As I approach the Transportation Safety Administration podium with my boarding pass, I watch smiles turn into serious expressions as agents see the bold “SSSS” on the top and bottom of my boarding pass. The abbreviation stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection.

I am told to step to the side as a supervisor is called and my ID is taken away from me. I am taken through security with an agent, and on the other side watch my belongings ripped apart as I am frisked top to bottom, over and under my clothing. My laptop, cellphone, and Kindle are all turned on and sit open at the disposal of the agent’s prying eyes.

Today, I felt more devalued than ever as I watched my epi pen, a medical device for allergic reactions, get confiscated. All I could do was plead with the agents and try my best to convince them of the medical necessity. I guess I was lucky to have this potentially life-saving tool returned.

With ongoing hateful rhetoric from the likes of Donald Trump against Muslims and Middle-Easterners, I see the situation getting worse. I feel as though I am standing 30,000 feet above this situation, watching our country regress to racist and bigoted behaviors.

As a private tutor of U.S. history, I see too many parallels with what I and many other American Muslims are facing today, and the discrimination of Jewish immigrants fleeing from Hitler in the 1930s, Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor and African-Americans in the 1960s.

As we mark the 74th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, and more than 80 years since Hitler rose to power, I feel Americans need to revisit the collective memories of our past in order to prevent us from a divided future.

As a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the oldest Muslim community in the United States, I cite our peaceful motto: Love for All, Hatred for None.

While my interactions with the TSA at the very least could remain respectful, I have felt talked down to and racially profiled each time agents tore apart my suitcase and asked me probing questions. As I reflect on the way this made me feel I know two things. First, I am an American and am loyal to my country. Second, neither I nor any other peace-loving American deserves to feel this way, regardless of race or religion. I call on my fellow Americans to remain peaceful in these tough times, and hope for a more tolerant future.



__________
Deeana Ijaz is from Ann Arbor.

Read original post here: U.S.-born Muslim, repeatedly singled out and searched

This content-post is archived for backup and to keep archived records of any news Islam Ahmadiyya. The views expressed by the author and source of this news archive do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of Ahmadiyya Times. Ahmadiyya Times is not an organ of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, nor in any way associated with any of the community's official websites.