Peace Alliance aims to cure Islamophobia
by Connor Thompson
appears in the 03/17/2011 edition of The Chimes

This past week's Anti-Islamophobia Week grew out of students' concern over the mistreatment of Muslims in America. Katie Wilson, junior, explains that "For the week, we're aiming at respectful dialogue and relationships between people and situations that we might not understand."

On Tuesday, March 15, the Student Peace Alliance hosted an event giving two local Muslims the opportunity to discuss how their lives have been changed since the events of September 11, 2001 and address some of the common misconceptions about the religion of Islam.

Rahma Jama, the first speaker of the night, came from The Ohio State University where she is the sister's coordinator of the Ohio State Muslim Student Association. Jama explained that her religion has always been an important part of her life.

"It [Islam] has always be around me…whether it was through praying, fasting or donating… it [Islam] has always been there," said Jama.

Jama wanted the audience to know that Islam is a religion of peace. Not all people of Islamic faith are bad or out to harm people. There are extremists in Islam, but Jama pointed out that there are extremist groups in nearly every religion.

Jama moved to America at age eight and has lived in the Columbus area ever since.

"People don't think that I can understand English," Jama said, "but I understand everything that you say to me when you tell me to go back to my country. What harms you always harms me."

Jama ended her speech by saying "What you see in the media isn't always the truth," which was also something that the second speaker of the night, Fazeel Kahn discussed.

Kahn was born in Fiji, grew up in Quebec and now lives in Ohio where he is a practicing attorney.

"Today, Islam, as a religion, is viewed as extreme and violent," Kahn explained, then addressed these misconceptions by saying that so much of society wants to blame all Muslims for what has happened and what is currently happening worldwide, but we cannot and should not do that.

"People are trying to hold all Muslims to accountable," Kahn said. "And I think a large part of this has to do with the attacks on Sept. 11."

Kahn went on to talk about how the media has affected the popular idea of what Islam is and who Muslims are.

"Above half of the media about Muslims is militant," Kahn said. "Not everyone who looks like us wants to be viewed that way."

He also stated that because of the societal views of Muslims, he feels he is treated like a "second class citizen" in certain areas.

The Anti-Islamophobia Week continued with a discussion panel on Wednesday, March 16. In the afternoon of Thursday, March 17, the Student Peace Alliance will host tours of local mosques. On Friday, March 18, an Interfaith Fair will be held in the Schneider Multipurpose Room from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Abbie Carver, a freshman member of the Student Peace Alliance, said that the Alliance's goal is to promote understanding.

"Listening and learning about a religion does not necessarily mean you are converting," she said. "Education is a great tool to combat fear, hate and intolerance."