During Bush’s administration, Muslims were randomly picked and interviewed by the FBI with the assumption of them involved in some terrorist organization. It’s a common issue. From a personal experience; my uncle, Muhammad Saleh, went to America 2 years ago visiting family and friends. He was surprised when he was dragged into a small interrogation room in the airport, strip searched and then waited for anyone to appear for a long 3 hours. He was cuffed sitting on a small steel chair. He didn’t know what to expect or what’s waiting for him. A big man wearing a suit got into the room and started asking the regular question asked to a terrorist.“Why are you here?” “Do you have any connections to a terrorist cell?” “Do you know these people (he showed pictures)?” “Where do you live?” “Why did you come from Syria?” “Do you know anything about guns?” “Have you ever owned a gun?” “Are you aware of any upcoming planned terrorist attacks?” and so on...
My uncle answered calmly and honestly every question he was asked. Then he asked the FBI agent himself: “Why am I here being interrogated by the FBI when I am only visiting family and friends?” He answered: “It’s because you’re a Muslim and your name is Muhammad.”
That was very shocking and almost unreal to my uncle. Now what pissed me off is that it’s a shame how Muslims with certain names are picked and put into this small room. Before you go and pick random people, with their technology, isn’t there something called a background check? I can understand that the terrorist attacks on America are creating a huge national insecurity for the governments and the people. But that doesn’t give the right to randomly pick innocent people and interrogate them. What if the person picked was a student who wants to live and America and lives the “American Dream”? This incident will create a long lasting effect of him hating the minute he walked in because he was, even for a minute, treated as a terrorist.
Some people are scared of being Muslims entering America. I don’t think that’s what America is all about. America is known, through media and television, as the one country embracing all kinds of religions and people from the whole world and treating them as their own people. That’s the best thing in America. Unfortunately it turned into something else. Again I remind you that I am aware of the ugly unfair terrorist attacks on America, but it’s also unfair for innocent people to be treated this way.
The same way in the Middle East. Americans are people who are generally hated because of their political alliance with Israel. But what about the people? I don’t think it’s unfair for both sides to treat people differently because the work of governments isn’t related to the beliefs of people. Look at the time when the last war happened in Gaza. A lot of Americans and other western populations hated the war crimes committed in Gaza and they took a stand for it, even if morally, at least they did. Those are people we should treat well because not all your fingers are the same. The same way it should work in America. The Muslims and the middle eastern shouldn’t be treated like “usual suspects” when they’re just visiting the beautiful country holding their friends and families.
I think it’s time for people to start understanding the differences between governments and people because as much democracy they claim there is in the world. It’s a hypocrite world we live in. governments and administrations choose their predecessors and the people don’t have a word in it.
There is a very interesting article I just read with the title “The Usual Suspects”. Take a look at it.
Also don’t forget to check The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Website.
