“We tried to show we are peaceful, and keep talking to the young people. If they think people hate them that can lead to radicalization.”
Source/Credit: Record-Journal
By Mary Ellen Godin | December 17, 2015
MERIDEN — The FBI will bring its anti-bullying program to a South Meriden mosque after some of its youngest members reported to the mosque that they were being bullied in school.
Mohammed Qureshi, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, said the FBI offered the program to mosque members while investigating a shooting at the Baitul Aman mosque last month. No arrests have been made.
The shooting occurred several hours after a terrorist attack in Paris killed more than 130 people. On Dec. 2, a married couple in San Bernadino opened fire during a workplace party killing 14 people and injuring more. Authorities said the couple had been radicalized for several years.
After the incidents, Muslims reported harassment and threats in several states, including Connecticut.
Qureshi said at least six children of middle and high school age told him they were bullied in school.
“They are telling us privately,” Qureshi said. “Some didn’t even want to tell their parents. There could be more.”
The FBI’s anti-bullying program aims to help children handle and report taunts and threats from other students. Qureshi decided to take the FBI up on its offer after hearing from the children. The event on Saturday at 1 p.m. is open to the students, parents and the public.
“We tried to show we are peaceful, and keep talking to the young people,” Qureshi said. “If they think people hate them that can lead to radicalization.”
School Superintendent Mark Benigni said he had not heard any reports of a Muslim student being bullied in city schools.
“There is no tolerance for bullying of any kind,” Benigni said. “The district offers an MPS Cares platform for students to report concerns online. In addition, we have weekly advisory programs and a climate survey, as well.”
Students in Meriden schools explore world religion in the senior forum class and in 9th grade world history, Benigni said.
Platt High School senior forum teacher James Flynn said the school has a growing Muslim population. Most of the class expressed pride in the diverse student population. Students in a recent class discussed ISIS and its impact on Muslims in the United States.
“If someone is attacking your religion, you have to defend it,” student Cheran Rush said.
Destiny Lewis, another student in the class, said the topic of radicalized religion doesn’t come up in conversations with her Muslim friends.
“I think people try to avoid it,” she said. “They’re still my friends; It’s kind of disappointing that that’s how people see them.”
Autumn Standish said a Muslim friend at school has been deeply impacted by events for years.
“Sometimes she wished she wasn’t Muslim,” Standish said. “Whenever something happens, she gets blamed for it.”
Their classmate, Fernando Rivera, plans to join the Navy after graduation. He believes banning and harassing peaceful Muslims only intensifies the violence.
“It will breed more hate around the world,” he said.
Ali Salafia said a friend brought a prayer rug to English class to explain Islam during a reading of “The Life of Pi.”
“She was very open to explaining it to us,” Salafia said. “She didn’t talk about the shootings.”
mgodin@record-journal.com 203-317-2255 Twitter: @Cconnbiz
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