Muslims adjust to new attention on religion

Sarah Salem is a business and Spanish major. Her hair is dark and she is petite, standing… Sarah Salem is a business and Spanish major. Her hair is dark and she is petite, standing somewhere around 5 feet tall. She has concerns about succeeding in such a competitive field. Today, like most days, she will go to class and work her shift at the library. And like many students, she will attend a few of the University-sponsored memorial events occurring throughout the day.

For the most part, though, she’ll follow her daily routine. In the morning, she’ll wrap a scarf, or hijab, around her, concealing all of her hair and part of her oval face. She’ll turn toward the East five times during the course of the day in prayer, because, like 300 or so other Pitt students, Sarah Salem is a Muslim.

In the past year, Muslims have been forced to deal with a national spotlight on their religion. Television and newspapers across the nation covered both verbal and physical assaults on people of Middle Eastern descent. In Oakland in December, an Etna man was charged with attacking a Pakistani-born student while screaming, “Are you from Afghanistan?” as he kicked him.

While incidents like these are not exclusive to Pitt, both Salem and senior Fawad Sultan, who hold positions in the Muslim Student Association, agreed that the University community has been very encouraging in the Sept. 11 backlash. Professors have held them after classes to offer support and students have openly expressed curiosity about the religion.

Sultan said that one positive aspect of the adversity is that it has given him the opportunity to grow in his faith and educate others about his practices.

“Now that Islam is in the forefront of the media, it is our duty to explain any misconceptions that have come out,” Sultan said.

Among these fallacies is the belief that Islam suppresses women. “The truth is, Islam is extremely tolerant. It’s not archaic at all,” Salem said, explaining her choice to wear the traditional hijab.

Both Salem and Sultan said that college students and other 20-somethings have been open-minded and willing to learn about the religion, coverage of which has recently bombarded the news. Generally, intolerance and prejudice have come from older generations who haven’t necessarily been exposed to the diversity of a college campus, they said.

Salem recounted a story in which an older man shouted “filthy Arab” at her as she drove past him in her car.

“I don’t know. There have been things. There was a story about someone in a computer lab being harassed,” Salem said. She then brushed the few incidents away with a sweep of her small hand to stress the encouragement of the majority. “For the most part, Sept. 11 has brought out the best in people.”

Salem and Sultan said that little change is evident in their lives since last year. They don’t fear for their lives or avoid public places. They hang out with friends as they always have and participate in almost all of MSA’s picnics, meetings and socials. And though they said that they have felt terror, it has dulled into remembrance and concern.

“Our lives have changed the same as anyone’s. We’re all in this together. We feel the rage and the sadness,” Sultan said.

As for the violence against Muslims and other groups, Sultan said he “isn’t afraid, but definitely more aware.”

Salem added that while her life has not been dramatically altered, she does feel the need to be more cautious in public.

“Now, I am more careful that my actions are not misinterpreted,” she said. “I have to realize that anything I do may reflect my religion as a whole.”

Upon leaving the familiarity of college life, both Salem and Sultan think finding a job will be somewhat more difficult for them than their peers. Sultan said that he had extensively questioned whether or not to incorporate his faith into a resume.

“Where should I put it?” he asked softly, remembering the time spent laboring over the decision. “How should I put it?”

In the end, he said, he included his heritage.

“It’s not something I could or should hide,” he said.

The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh and Attawheed Foundation are holding an open house tonight to support the Pittsburgh community by remembering the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks and providing information about Islam. There will be Islamic books, posters and art to view as well as food to sample. 5-9 p.m. 4100 Bigelow Blvd. (412) 682-5555.