Vatican newspaper: American Muslims face discrimination in 9/11 aftermath

September 01, 2011

As Americans prepare to observe the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Vatican newspaper has reported that in the aftermath of the attacks, Muslims living in the US are the victims of discrimination and hostility.

“Ten years later it is even more difficult to be Muslim in the United States,” L’Osservatore Romano writes. The report continues:

Since that fatal day of September 11th, which has been decisively carved into the recent history of the entire planet, every day tasks such as shopping, wandering through the streets and taking public transportation have become more complicated for followers of Islam on American soil. Often singled out for surveillance, Muslims risk constantly being checked on, looked at with suspicion and called offensive names.

As support for these claims, the Vatican newspaper cites the results of a Pew survey. In fact, the Pew Research Center reported a rather different result: “As the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, a comprehensive public opinion survey finds no indication of increased alienation or anger among Muslim Americans.”

While a slender majority of American Muslims (55%) reported that their lives have become more difficult in the 10 years since the terrorist attacks, only 6% said that they had been attacked, and just 28% felt that they had been subjected to undue suspicion.

The Pew study found that most American Muslims reject violence, and find fault with Islamic leaders for not condemning terrorism.

 

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Further information:

• Ten years of difficulty for Muslim Americans (L'Osservatore Romano)
• Muslim Americans: No Signs of Growth in Alienation or Support for Extremism (Pew Research Center)