Arab-American, Muslim groups concerned about repercussions

BY ALEX BRANCH

abranch@star-telegram.com

Arab-American and Muslim groups condemned the mass shooting at Fort Hood and expressed concern that the tragedy would cause thousands of Muslims and Arabs who serve honorably in the U.S. military to be viewed with suspicion.

“I hope we don’t go down that road of looking at one another as suspects,” said Jamal Baadani, a U.S.Marine reserve and founder of the Association of Patriotic Arab Americans in Military. “We are all serving this country together and sacrificing together.”

“Our hearts go out to our injured fellow service members and their families,” he said.

Witnesses said the suspect Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan shouted “Allahu Akbar” -- an Arabic phrase for God is Great -- before opening fire, killing 13 people and injuring 30.

An imam from a mosque Hasan regularly attended said Hasan, a lifelong Muslim, was a committed soldier, gave no sign of extremist beliefs and regularly wore his uniform at prayers.

His aunt told the Washington Post that Hasan had endured name-calling and harassment about his Muslim faith after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and had sought to be discharged from the military.

Baadani said he founded the association to “do something positive” after the backlash against Arabs and Muslims brought on by 9/11.

“I think we learned from 9/11 not to just paint each other with a broad brush,” he said. “We learned just because somebody looks like us and talks like us and does something horrific, not to blame everyone in that community.”

More than 3,500 Arab-American and Muslims serve honorably in the U.S Military, he said.

“Some have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said. “There are thousands of patriotic Arab-Americans and Muslims who are protecting their country from harm.”

The Islamic Association of Tarrant County issued a statement Friday morning condemning the “cowardly attack” at Fort Hood and calling for the attacker should be brought to justice.

“No political or religious ideology could ever justify or excuse such indiscriminate violence. The attack was particularly heinous in that it targeted the army that protects our nation,” the statement said.

Officials with Arab American Institute said in a statement they were “horrified by this tragic and senseless act of violence committed by a disturbed individual.” They also urged people to donate blood to help the wounded soldiers.

“We grieve with the families of those who died and those who were wounded,” they said.

Police Thursday evening stepped up security at area mosques and Islamic centers after a threat was called into the Islamic Center of Irving shortly after the Fort Hood shooting, said Walid Joulani, an Islamic community spokesman.

“The security was added for precautionary reasons,” Joulani said.

The threats were not specific but did include profanity that was directed at the Muslims. Vandals fired at least six gunshots into the windows at the same center a day after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Extra police presence at some of the larger mosques and centers in Tarrant County including the Dar El Eman Islamic Center in south Arlington, the Dar El Salam in north Arlington and Al-Hedayah in east Fort Worth, Joulani said.

Staff writer Nate Jones contributed to this report.

ALEX BRANCH, 817-390-7689