Religion

Islamic Society encourages Muslims to lay low this month

Islamophobia is on the rise. Maybe it’s the Ground Zero Mosque—the one that’s actually a cultural center with a prayer room in it (similar to the prayer room that was in the World Trade Center’s south tower). Or maybe it’s Reverend Terry Jones’ 9/11 Koran burning—the one that didn’t even happen. Or maybe it’s the lingering war in Afghanistan that seems increasingly futile or maybe something else altogether. But for one reason or another, the irrational fear of Muslims has spiked.

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Islamic Society of Nevada
4730 E. Desert Inn Road, 433-3431
lvmasjid.us

Imam Aslam Abdullah, director of the Islamic Society of Nevada, recognizes this much. Earlier this month, he asked local Muslims to try and keep a low profile throughout September, even though September marks the end of Ramadan.

Abdullah, members of the Islamic Society of Nevada, and other community members gathered around the Federal Courthouse on September 11. They hoped to do two things: 1) mourn the loss of those who lost their lives in the 2001 attacks, and 2) demonstrate that the vast majority of Muslims don’t side with the terrorists.

In the past, The Islamic Society of Nevada has condemned Muslim leaders for publicly whipping Somali women who wore undergarments and has urged Muslims to react peacefully and intellectually to those who draw and print cartoons of Prophet Muhammed:

“Never did [Muhammed] retaliate against those who were making fun of him or humiliating him,” Imam Aslam Abdullah wrote. “On the contrary, he showed concerns for them when told about their misfortune.”

And perhaps we should do the same. Perhaps we should not only be concerned about Islamophobia, but also show concern for the Islamophobes.

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