American Muslims Ready for More Dialogue

August 29, 2002

Source: Ctnow

On August 29, 2002 Ctnow reported that "many [American Muslims] are preparing to talk, even more, about their religion, having been thrust into the role of unofficial spokesmen for Islam, caught between those who use Islam to justify terrorism and those who equate it with the terrorist attacks. An August survey of 945 Muslim American households, by the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington, found that 57 percent experienced bias or discrimination after the 9/11 attacks. Also, 79 percent reported acts of kindness and support from friends and colleagues of other faiths. The survey also found that 67 percent said the media had grown more biased against Islam and Muslims, and 48 percent said their lives had changed for the worse in the year following the attacks. 'I would say it's been a difficult year. For a lot of Muslims it's been a year of soul-searching, being called on to defend oneself, and to educate people about Muslims,' said Colleen Keyes, dean of academic affairs at Tunxis Community College in Farmington, [Connecticut]."