Author: Aziz Akhmad
Publication: Dawn
Date: June 15, 2005
URL: http://dawn.com/2005/06/15/letted.htm#3
A lot is being said and written
in the post-9/11 world about the poor treatment of the Muslims living in
America but very little is reported about what the Muslims do to "endear"
themselves to the communities among which they have chosen to live.
An old friend of mine who is happily
settled in the state of Minnesota for many years is actively involved in
local community affairs and frequents a mosque located in close proximity
to a big church in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St Paul.
The church officials were kind enough
to allow the mosque-goers (the "brothers" and "sisters", as my friend refers
to them) free use of the church's ample parking lot with the only condition
that a specific row in the parking lot must always be left for use of the
church officials. But the "brothers" would arrive late for prayers and
park their cars wherever they could, including the reserved spots (even
double park), and make a dash to the mosque.
The church officials mentioned the
problem to the mosque officials, notices were sent out, and even announcements
were made during the Friday sermon, but to no avail.
This went on for about six months
and finally the church officials, when they felt they had had enough, called
the police who ticketed the violators, and the tow-truck did the rest.
The "brothers" were outraged and
let out their anger on the mosque officials.
But then they started parking their
cars in the neighbourhood, blocking people's driveways. The neighbours
lodged numerous complaints with the imam, the police issued warnings and
yet our "brothers" persisted. The neighbours got fed up and the more angry
among them one day vandalized the mosque. Come Friday, the imam delivered
a fiery speech on increasing incidence of hate crimes in America.
This is a typical example of how
some of the imams here exploit the freedom of speech guaranteed under the
US Constitution by giving vent to their unfounded anger. Incidentally,
the damage caused to the mosque was fixed by another church group free
of charge.
