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		30 May - 5 June 2002 Issue No.588 International	Current issue Previous issue Site map
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Recommend this page

From 9/11 to A20
Did the US's Muslim and Arab communities need Israel's invasion of the West Bank to restore the voice they lost in the aftermath of 11 September? Amira Howeidy seeks answers from CAIR's executive director Nihad Awad

Nihad Awad

From 11 September to 29 March, America's Muslim and Arab communities experienced two extreme shifts. For months, following the hysterical backlash of 11 September, they felt intimidated and threatened. Consequently, the US's Muslim and Arab communities have remained silent over the controversial war on terror and strikes on Afghanistan. Nor did the rising death toll of Palestinian civilians trigger much of a reaction.
But after Israel's invasion of the West Bank on March 29, these communities, shocked and outraged by the extent of the brutality, became more outspoken. This was clearly illustrated by the events of 20 April in Washington DC. Hundreds of civil rights groups, from across the political spectrum, mobilised more than 100,000 people who went on a massive demonstration against Israel and to oppose Bush's "endless war". The scene was rather unusual, with Jewish and Christian organisations chanting "we are all Palestinians". Despite the many Palestine solidarity demonstrations that followed, 20 April stood out as a reference date often cited by civil rights groups. Muslim and Arab NGOs believe that "A20" (as many now call it) has created a "new reality". According to Nihad Awad, executive director of CAIR (the Council on American-Islamic Relations), "20 April was a historic event. On that day, a new movement was born in the US."
CAIR, a Washington-based, non-profit organisation, is concerned with promoting a positive image of Muslims and Islamic culture in the US. Since its inception in the early 1990s, CAIR has acquired a strategic importance for both the US's seven million Muslims and the wider Islamic world.
Although CAIR is accustomed to dealing with crises, the sheer magnitude of the 11 September attacks meant that demand on the organisation multiplied. "Instead of receiving 300 phone calls a day from community members and journalists, we got over 500 calls a day from the media alone. Our resources, however, remain unchanged," Awad told Al- Ahram Weekly. His organisation is still suffering from the overwhelming post-11 September workload. Thousands of e- mails and letters remain unanswered. More alarmingly, CAIR has registered over 1,700 cases of racial discrimination and civil rights violations against Muslims and Arabs. CAIR's 15 regional offices and its Washington headquarters "can't cope with the situation", Awad said. Muslims "have been victims of the 11 September attack and its backlash. They have a responsibility to maintain a positive attitude, reach out to people and prove the compatibility of their Islamic identity with their US citizenship".
Awad admits that CAIR will need to be "100 times its current size to cope with the current workload". At present CAIR has a budget of only $3 million. It would take $11 million just to handle its present work. With a full time staff of only 25, employees often find themselves working up to 20 hours a day. "We need to be constantly available to answer questions and add perspective," Awad says. Indeed, CAIR's more seasoned activists have been regular guests on both American and Arab TV stations and more recently in the Arabic press. For months following 11 September, CAIR was the Arab media's main source of information on racism and civil rights violations against Muslims and Arabs.
Yet despite the negative consequences of 11 September, Awad believes it has created "a window of opportunity to reach out to the American public". The readiness of the US public to learn more about Muslims and their beliefs has reached a zenith since 11 September, according to Awad.
Then came Israel's invasion of Palestinian towns in the West Bank on 29 March. Israel's wanton and indiscriminate killings of Palestinian civilians reigned unchecked, culminating in the horrifying massacre in Jenin. As Palestine solidarity demonstrations swept the world, Muslim and Arab communities in the US regained their political voice. Israel's invasion of the West Bank also made ordinary Americans reassess their political views.
"The good news is we're discovering dozens of like -minded organisations and hundreds of Americans who have never expressed support for the Palestinians before," Awad observed. "There has been a major shift in public opinion," he added.
The demonstrations of 20 April were organised primarily by non-Muslim and non-Arab groups. This represents a new awakening among Americans, the majority of whom disapprove of Israel's actions against the Palestinians.
The demonstration also took networking to new levels, with Muslim-Christian-Jewish-Arab coordination. A striking example is CAIR's "networking" with the Jewish, anti- Zionist Natori Karta group.
"Zionist organisations in the US have misled the country for too long. They are [now] losing their hold over the issues," Awad argues.
But what has caused this shift? "Many Americans believe that the events of 11 September have root causes. They want to know why America was attacked. I don't think anyone can justify what happened but responsible people will always ask questions. These people know that Israel has been a strategic liability to the US. It has caused great damage to America's credibility and image around the world. These Americans want to send a message to the Arab and Muslim world, showing support for the Palestinians. They can longer keep silent."
Although CAIR emphasises its Islamic identity, it lays equal emphasis on its American heritage. CAIR takes great effort to maintain the delicate balance between the community's identity and the organisation's respect for US civil rights. "Our message is simple; America's interest first. We care about our country, we love it and we want it to be free of the monopoly of the pro-Israel organisations," Awad said. "CAIR has shown, over the years, that we defend the Muslim faith and identity." CAIR identifies with the Palestinian question as follows "It's an Arab and Muslim cause, it's a humanitarian cause. Anyone with the minimum level of humanity and dignity should support the Palestinians."
"Often, public advocacy is driven by events," says Awad. Indeed, 11 September sparked a backlash against Muslims and Arabs. Ironically, the events of 29 March have reversed the situation. The result: The Palestinian cause has made a permanent impact on America's Peace and Justice movement. This may well signal a historic change.

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