Related Resources • 9/11: Muslim Reaction • Anti-Muslim Incidents Were on the Rise • Muslims Fear Backlash

From Other Guides • NY: Ground Zero • Post 9/11 Racism • Healing: A Collective Effort • Building Sanctuaries of Peace • America: Love it or leave it? • Faith and Violence • Rumors & Hoaxes

After the horrific attack on September 11th, the American Muslim community braced for the backlash.  Unfortunately, they got it.

Government leaders appealed for calm, with President Bush reminding people that "we should not hold one who is a Muslim responsible for an act of terror."  The Department of Justice issued a statement reminding Americans that "we must not descend to the level of those who perpetrated Tuesday's violence..."

One week after the attacks, President George W. Bush visited the Islamic Center of Washington, DC for the first time.  He met with Muslim leaders and issued a statement that "Those who feel like they can intimidate our fellow citizens to take out their anger don't represent the best of America, they represent the worst of humankind and they should be ashamed of that kind of behavior."  He also reminded people that, "these acts of violence against innocents violate the fundamental tenets of the Islamic faith and it's important for my fellow Americans to understand that.... The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam.'' 

Despite these words of support and hope, anger and ignorance won out in many places across the country and the world.  Indeed, the ignorance was so appalling that innocent people from other faiths and cultures were attacked merely for looking Middle Eastern or Muslim.

A full report of backlash incidents has been compiled and published by the Council on American Islamic Relations.  They documented 1717 incidents of violence, threats, and bias in the first six month alone.  While the report highlights the worst cases of hatred and violence, it also brings out the positive:  the American Muslim community's assistance in 9/11 relief and law enforcement efforts, and support offered to Muslims by Americans of other faiths.

The full report is available to download from the Council on American-Islamic Relations:

American Muslims: One Year After 9/11
(Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat versions)

A summary of the report can be found by clicking here.

"Do not be people without minds of your own,
saying that if others treat you well you will treat them well,
and that if they do wrong you will do wrong.
Rather, accustom yourselves to do good if people do good,
and not to do wrong if they do evil."

- The Prophet Muhammad (reported by Tirmidhi)