Anti-Muslim backlash raises fears in US ANALYSIS 09/10/2010

Anti-Muslim backlash raises fears in US

ANALYSIS

09/10/2010
WASHINGTON — A spate of anti-Muslim attacks is arousing fears that a vitriolic debate over Islam in America is spinning out of control as the United States marks the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

While statistics confirming a trend toward violence are elusive, analysts, religious leaders, and Muslim community activists say anti-Muslim sentiment has reached a pitch not seen since al-Qaeda hijackers killed nearly 3,000 persons in the deadliest attack on US soil.

“What we’re seeing is a tremendous wave of anti-Muslim rhetoric in our society, which has resulted in a number of hate incidents targeting mosques and Muslims around the country,” said Ibrahim Hooper, communications director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

An angry debate over plans for a mosque near where the World Trade Center once stood appears to have fueled the resentment, which now shows no sign of abating.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100910com3.html