Ryan Walsh WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Muslim community dealt with a stereotypical backlash after the September 11th attacks, and it is a backlash that continues to this day.
Dr. Mohammed Bajwa, the President of the Islamic Center of Western Massachusetts, told 22News that this year, especially recently, their center is receiving a few more threats by phone and in person.
Dr. Bajwa wasn’t sure of the reason for the threats, other than speculating they were political in nature. Dr. Bajwa did say in the past few years, the Muslim Community was feeling comfortable that things were settling down. “We are equally as American as anybody else. In this situation we are all together. We all have to pray for peace, we all have to try to understand and try to minimize bigotry as much as we can,” Bajwa said.
Dr. Bajwa is concerned with the recent terror threat that came to the attention of security officials. He said that if something happens, then some people will automatically point their fingers at the Muslim community.
the September 11th attacks, and it is a backlash that continues to this day.