By Cindy J. Roth
Although the new USA Patriot Act, pasted last month, states that American citizens who commit acts of violence against those who are or are perceived to be of Arab or Muslim descent will be punished to the full extent of the law, bias crimes are still occurring across the country, including locally.
In Nassau County, the Police Department's Bias Crime Unit saw bias-related activities almost triple in the weeks after the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers, including attacks on several mosques. Although more recently the numbers of bias crimes reported are returning to the unit's average of 10 to 12 a month, there are still many individuals who are being targeted because of their race, origin, faith or sex, according to Detective Sgt. Gary Shapiro, Nassau County Bias Crime Unit commander.
For local Muslims associated with Bellmore's new mosque on Newbridge Road, the months since Sept. 11 have left them questioning their freedoms as Muslims and American citizens.
"I made my home here," said Mozaffar Partowmah, mosque congregant, from East Meadow. "I'm trying to pursue the American dream. Our lives in the United States are being attacked. The events of Sept. 11 make our hearts bleed. We don't condone these activities. We want to bring peace and tranquillity back to the country."
While most congregants said they have not been specifically targeted, Rashid Patel of North Merrick believes he is a victim of a bias crime. The offender, a police officer.
About three weeks ago, Patel was picked up from his office on Merrick Avenue around 9 p.m. by another Muslim friend. While the friend was driving Patel home, a police officer in a marked car started to follow them. After several blocks, the officer pulled Patel and his friend over.
"I didn't know why we were stopped," Patel said. "We did not do anything wrong."
The unknown police officer came to the side of the car and asked the driver for his license, registration and insurance, Patel said. After returning from his car, the officer asked Patel's friend to step out of his car and began questioning him about what he was doing in Merrick so late when he lived in Ronkonkoma. The police officer then allegedly requested to search the car.
Patel said the men were held up for about 40 minutes as the officer looked through the car's trunk and requested explanations of different items. Finally, the men were given the OK to leave, and they continued to Patel's home.
"If stopped for a traffic violation I understand, but not because we look different," Patel said.
Beyond Patel's experience, mosque member Fezlul Syed of Bellmore said so far local Muslims have been fine, and there have been no alarming situations. Syed said that people are listening to President Bush and understanding that this is not a war against Islam; it is a war against terrorists. That lesson is not only being taught over the airwaves, but in the classroom.
Local school-age Muslim children said they hear few negative comments made about their faith at school. Ameera Nauman, an eighth-grader at East Meadow's Woodland High School, said current events are discussed in history classes a lot to help students understand the war. On occasion, people use anti-Muslim language, Nauman said, but it is only out of ignorance or because people are trying to be cool.
Tenth-grade student Faiza Mallick of Old Westbury said the school's Intercultural Unity Club is helping raise awareness of the differences of individuals while promoting the acceptance of everyone. Mallick said people have always made remarks about the Muslim religion, even before the Sept. 11 incidents. But there is an added focus now to set the students straight and educate them about the current issues and differences of historical backgrounds and faiths.
"We are here as law-abiding citizens of this great country," Syed said. "We are a peace-loving people. We hate any terrorist activities."
