Muslims Concerned About Retaliation

HOUSTON - When word spread that the suspected gunman in Thursday's shooting at Fort Hood was a Muslim, there were concerns that those practicing Muslims in our country could face backlash or even retaliation, KPRC Local 2 reported.

At the same time, a local man was trying to change misconceptions of Muslims while spreading a message of love.

Syed Irtiza Hasan is a native Texan and a devout Muslim. He said the images of Thursday's scene in Killeen deeply saddened and frustrated him.

Hasan said the reaction in the Muslim community has been complex and varied.

"One (reaction) is going to be people who are feeling kind of guilty, guilty by association and you're going to have the other, which is rejectionism 'we don't have anything to do with this this,'" he said.

Hasan is chairman of the Al-Maghrib Institute, an organization that holds seminars on love from the Muslim perspective. He said the shooting affected him because it happened the day before the seminars were to begin in Houston.

Beyond that coincidence, he also has ties to Fort Hood. He said he has friends who trained there, and years ago he said he taught a basic course on Islam to some of the area's newly converted Muslims.

In the aftermath, he said he worried most about the Muslim men and women who wear the uniform.

"I think the concern is more how Muslims in the U.S. military are going to be viewed," he said.

Friday was a Muslim holy day, and although it was not the main focus, the shooting in Fort Hood was addressed during services throughout Houston.

The president of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston said that he spread the word to the imams in the area to condemn the shootings during prayer service.

As he delivered that message, Dr. Aziz Siddiqi said he also prepared for any backlash at area mosques.

"We have taken precautionary measures we are in touch with federal, state and county and the police chief," Siddiqi said. "We have full patrols at all of our facilities."

While Muslims across Houston prayed, Hasan prayed that peace would prevail.

"Everybody is very sad about the tragedy but at the same time, we caution people against rushing to any judgment," he said.

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