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American Morning
For Muslims Living in U.S, It Can be Daily Challenge
Aired September 10, 2003 - 08:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Life has changed in many ways for Americans since the September 11 attacks and for Muslims living in the United States, it can still be a daily challenge.
Deborah Feyerick went to a mosque in Savannah, Georgia and spent time with their community and she has the story of one Muslim doctor and his family.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SAAD HAMMID: Yes, much better.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dr. Saad Hammid is a pediatrician in Savannah, Georgia. He is also Muslim. Dr. Hammid was treating patients the day his adopted country was attacked.
(on camera): What was your immediate thought?
HAMMID: I hoped that the perpetrators were not Muslims. That was my prayer.
We tried to be more secure.
FEYERICK (voice-over): In the last two years, being Muslim in America has not been easy.
HAMMID: Every Muslim became a suspect. Every person became a target, either of just the questioning or just concern from the people around them.
FEYERICK: Before 9/11, Dr. Hammid, a Syrian born Palestinian, never had a problem living in Georgia. Like the 500 other Muslims in Savannah, he was busy working and raising two daughters with his wife Janet. People would stare at her traditional head scarf, but, she says, she never felt in physical danger.
JANET HAMMID: The fact that I wear a head covering, everybody would turn around and see. So it was very uncomfortable.
FEYERICK: Then this August that changed.
HAMMID: These are bullet shots.
FEYERICK: Five gunshots fired in the dead of night at the mosque where the Hammids pray.
HAMMID: We recovered two bullets from the ones on the opposite wall already.
FEYERICK: Two weeks later, an apartment of one worshipper was robbed, a threatening hate note left behind. Six days after that, fire. Arson, say investigators, destroying the two room mosque and Islamic center early one Sunday. According to an Arab-American group, hate crimes against Muslims are up 50 percent since 9/11. As the U.S. takes on more casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, Muslims worry the backlash will get worse. But rather than hide, they say they've grown stronger. They pray outdoors in a tent amidst the lingering smell of burnt wood. And Dr. Hammid, who was thinking of returning to Syria, will now stay.
HAMMID: I decided that I'm not going to run away from this. I'm going to face it. I'm going to do my job in telling the people what Islam is and Islam is a religion of peace. Now I feel it's a duty for me to stay and to tell the people about it.
FEYERICK: Before 9/11, plans were in the works to build a permanent mosque. After the fire, the community reached out, donating money and help. Now, with those donations and the insurance money, it will happen that much sooner.
Deborah Feyerick, CNN, Savannah, Georgia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 10, 2003 - 08:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Life has changed in many ways for Americans since the September 11 attacks and for Muslims living in the United States, it can still be a daily challenge.
Deborah Feyerick went to a mosque in Savannah, Georgia and spent time with their community and she has the story of one Muslim doctor and his family.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SAAD HAMMID: Yes, much better.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dr. Saad Hammid is a pediatrician in Savannah, Georgia. He is also Muslim. Dr. Hammid was treating patients the day his adopted country was attacked.
(on camera): What was your immediate thought?
HAMMID: I hoped that the perpetrators were not Muslims. That was my prayer.
We tried to be more secure.
FEYERICK (voice-over): In the last two years, being Muslim in America has not been easy.
HAMMID: Every Muslim became a suspect. Every person became a target, either of just the questioning or just concern from the people around them.
FEYERICK: Before 9/11, Dr. Hammid, a Syrian born Palestinian, never had a problem living in Georgia. Like the 500 other Muslims in Savannah, he was busy working and raising two daughters with his wife Janet. People would stare at her traditional head scarf, but, she says, she never felt in physical danger.
JANET HAMMID: The fact that I wear a head covering, everybody would turn around and see. So it was very uncomfortable.
FEYERICK: Then this August that changed.
HAMMID: These are bullet shots.
FEYERICK: Five gunshots fired in the dead of night at the mosque where the Hammids pray.
HAMMID: We recovered two bullets from the ones on the opposite wall already.
FEYERICK: Two weeks later, an apartment of one worshipper was robbed, a threatening hate note left behind. Six days after that, fire. Arson, say investigators, destroying the two room mosque and Islamic center early one Sunday. According to an Arab-American group, hate crimes against Muslims are up 50 percent since 9/11. As the U.S. takes on more casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, Muslims worry the backlash will get worse. But rather than hide, they say they've grown stronger. They pray outdoors in a tent amidst the lingering smell of burnt wood. And Dr. Hammid, who was thinking of returning to Syria, will now stay.
HAMMID: I decided that I'm not going to run away from this. I'm going to face it. I'm going to do my job in telling the people what Islam is and Islam is a religion of peace. Now I feel it's a duty for me to stay and to tell the people about it.
FEYERICK: Before 9/11, plans were in the works to build a permanent mosque. After the fire, the community reached out, donating money and help. Now, with those donations and the insurance money, it will happen that much sooner.
Deborah Feyerick, CNN, Savannah, Georgia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
