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Young and Muslim in NYC

By Jamshid Mousavinezhad | amNY.com

September 8, 2006

Five years ago 12-year-old Tahara Miah was sitting in a Lower East Side classroom when "wham," the 9/11 terror attacks rocked the world -- her world and her city.

"I was scared to death," she recalled. "I was worried about my parents and what was going to happen to us downtown. I actually saw the buildings collapse from the window of the school."

Up until then, the most difficult part of Tahara's life as a Muslim youngster growing up in the city was coming-of-age issues such as wearing a headscarf and being allowed to date.

After it was revealed that Muslim extremists were behind the unimaginable attacks that left almost 3,000 dead, Tahara said she and many of her friends were stunned.

"When I found out that Muslim extremists had caused the disaster I was heartbroken," said Tahara, now 17. "The definition of Islam is peace, and this was so violent and destructive that I couldn't fathom that Muslim people could do something like this."

At an age when "you'd just rather stay home isolated people said horrible things and we got stares ... yeah, it hurt," she said, recalling the days following 9/11. Fidgeting with her black headscarf, the thoughtful Bangladeshi-born teen said she was apprehensive about returning to Riis Upper School.

When classes resumed, however, she and other students -- "who knew I was a kind girl, that I wasn't a terrorist" -- mourned together. It made her feel "at home, and [that] people cared about me."

As the fifth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, Tahara and nine other city Muslim-American teens interviewed over several months said that while they have been impacted by 9/11, the war in Iraq and the global battle against terrorism, these events do not define their lives.

The most important thing in life is "respecting my religion and my family, followed by my friends," said Saddam Attareb, who lives in Harlem. What anyone else says "doesn't really matter to me".

Facing down prejudice
Bangladeshi-American Sadyia Khalique, 16, who wears a hijab covering her hair and upper torso, along with long-sleeved shirts and jeans, said she generally confronts people when they use slurs against her. "People are going to judge you. Accept it and defend yourself," the Queens teen said.

Of all the teens, Yemeni-American Maged Algutaini, 15, perhaps has had the most negative experiences. He said that some classmates in his Harlem high school have called him "terrorist" and "Arab bastard."

"They think Islam's all about terrorism and stuff like that, and it's not. [It's] about having respect, and keeping peace," the soft-spoken teen said.

The youngsters, ranging in age from 15 to 18, said the terrorists are not truly Muslims.

"If you do bad things, like drink, get crazy, kill, in my religion it's like you're not thinking like a Muslim," said Saddam. With a touch of bravado, the muscular 15-year-old said no one really taunts him about the name he shares with the ex-Iraqi dictator. "They just ask me stupid questions, like are you related to Saddam Hussein?"

Living with a strict faith
Mory Kaba, who is 16 and lives in the Bronx, tries to explain his religion to his non-Muslim pals, stressing that family influence and Islam's strict rules against violence, drinking, promiscuity and doing drugs, keep him out of trouble. "It helps me a lot, to know good from bad," the African-born teen said. "It's a good religion, it changes people."

While their religion gives them strength, it also sets them apart at an age when everyone's just trying to fit in.

Praying five times a day, eating only Halal food, fasting, not dating freely and dressing modestly, which often means being unfashionable, can make them feel "left out," said Mory's cousin Adama Kaba.

"Sometimes when you go to school you got to fast for certain months it's really hard watching everyone else and you're hungry," said the 17-year-old who immigrated from Guinea at age 9. It makes it easier, he said, when some of his friends "think it's cool to fast" and join him.