USA: Hudson grad among Muslims working to change negative perceptions of Islam

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"I'm a devout Muslim who loves Islam. But I also love America, and I see no contradiction between them. They are both compatible."

Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in the Times Square area for
New Year's in 2014, holding a demonstration against the Islamic State.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: The News Leader
By Tim Troglen | December 31, 2015

Hudson -- Feelings of hated and mistrust of Muslims in America seemed to peak shortly after the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, D.C.

They appeared to ebb for awhile but have recently reached a boiling point after the Dec. 2 attack at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino left 14 people dead and 22 injured. Federal officials identified the killers as Muslims influenced by members of ISIS. After the announcement, one presidential hopeful even went so far as to call for a ban on Muslims entering the country.

American Muslims often find themselves caught between their religion, a love for America and increasing Islamophobia. Some sit back silently, while others try to change perceptions and spread the word that the true message of Islam is peace and love.

Two of those taking proactive stances are Zohaib Zafar, a 2013 Hudson High School graduate who has been contacting the media, taking part in an interfaith dialogue and helping organize September 11 memorial blood drives; and Mona Shaikh, a Los Angeles-based stand-up comedienne, billed as "The Naughty Muslim Comedian," who uses comedy to dissect today's issues, including Islamophobia.

"Me and my family are just regular people who happen to be Muslim," says Zafar, an Ahmadiyya Muslim living in Brecksville and a member of Bedford's Bait Ul Ahad mosque. "I love living in America."

Zafar's parents are from Pakistan, however, he was born in America and has not visited Pakistan. He says he has not been victim of anti-Muslim feelings, but said most of the problems he's faced are people assuming all Muslims are the same.

"I'm a devout Muslim who loves Islam," Zafar said. "But I also love America, and I see no contradiction between them. They are both compatible."

According to Zafar, ISIS and other terror groups basing their hate and killing on teachings of the Quran are wrong.

"I firmly believe that I can change the negative perception many people have about Islam by living by the teachings of true Islam," Zafar said. "True Islam promotes peace and generosity which can trump Islamophobia."

Zafar is in his third year of college at Davidson College in North Carolina and is majoring in economics and minoring in Arabic.

In order to change the negative perception of Islam, Muslims should take it upon themselves to show they love America and American values while making sure they are shown doing positive things, Zafar said. His mosque recently held an observance for the San Bernardino victims and takes part each year in the September 11 memorial blood drive.

Zafar also suggests the media stop showing Muslims only as criminals.

"We must do everything we can to make Islam a peaceful religion in America," Zafar added.

While Zafar has not witnessed any overt Islamophobia, Shaikh has seen her share.

In 2013 she was attacked while performing on the stage at the Los Angeles Beverly Center by who she calls a "crazy white lady" who began by yelling racial slurs.

"She also proceeded to physically attack me while everyone else watched. Finally someone called the cops, she was with her three kids ages 8 through 13. The kids were also saying racist things to me such as 'go back to your country,' 'we should call the FBI on you' and 'your kind shouldn't be here,'" said Shaikh, who was born in Pakistan and raised in New York.

The lady left, with her children. When Shaikh tried to explain what happened to responding officers, they were "less then interested in hearing my case."

"When I went down to the police station to speak to the detective, I was informed that none of my details I had reported to the cops were noted," she said.

The case was finally dismissed due to "not enough evidence," she said.

Shaikh was left with a neck injury and major medical bills, even though footage was provided showing the attack.

She turned the negative incident into a positive and uses it in her act,

"This kind of bigotry and racism is not new to Americans. It's been done to Jews, Japanese, blacks, Hispanics... sadly it's now Muslims' turn," Shaikh said. "I feel like the older the generations get of Muslim families in American societies, the more they assimilate in the American fabric, the fears will hopefully subside. But then again, innocent black kids are still being shot, so I might be too optimistic about that."

As a comedian, Shaikh hopes people open their minds and stop "judgement and realize that Muslims are messed up just like the average American because guess what? They're American too."

"I want people to realize that when a white dude shoots up Planned Parenthood he's claimed to be mentally ill... when ISIS goes on a shooting spree, they are mentally ill, too," she said. "Mental illness is not a white man's disease, it's a human disease. Although some would differ to call ISIS human, but then again the Planned Parenthood shooter isn't one, either. They are both terrorists."

To find out more about Shaikh, visit www.monashaikh.com or her Facebook page.

Email: ttroglen@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-541-9435
Twitter: @Trog_RPC


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