Has Islamophobia Run Amok in America?

At a time of severe global and economic crisis, America is even more dependent than in the past on its traditional open-door policy towards foreigners and their intellectual capital. During the height of the Cold War, artists and intellectuals from across the globe flocked to the United States, not the Soviet Union. This longstanding contribution stemming from the free flow of ideas and culture has played no small part in America's economic and social development.

Eight years after 9/11 that tradition seems to have been transformed, however, by a national security complex that seems convinced that mindless profiling designed to humiliate foreign visitors is a valid substitute for effective intelligence work and sound counterterrorism strategy. Several recent incidents involving high profile Muslim visitors from India seem reflective of a pattern that will neither protect America from Al-Qaeda nor enhance her economic competitiveness at a time of global financial contraction.

Abdul Kalam is the former president of India, the head of state of the world's most populous functioning democracy. A national poll picked Kalam as "India's Best President." He is also a Muslim, and a renowned Indian patriot. As a scientist and aeronautical engineer, he played an important role in developing India's missile technology, and his work was seen by his compatriots as a valuable contribution towards enhancing India's national security. However, his stature, and even Indian airport security protocols that exempt dignitaries from being frisked, did not exempt the personnel from Continental Airlines from doing just that, as he prepared to board his flight to the United States.

What the former president of India had to endure is apparently not an isolated incident, but rather reflective of a pattern. Another recent example has sparked deep outrage in India.

The Indian community in Chicago invited one of the leading actors from India to participate in the windy city's India Independence Day parade. He is Shah Rukh Khan, known as the "King of Bollywood." However, he might as well have been King Canute, as far as the INS personnel at Newark International Airport were concerned. He was detained and subjected to humiliating treatment. It seemed that he was going to be forbidden entry into the United States, until the Indian consul general intervened.

The two incidents above may involve high profile celebrities, however, large numbers of academicians, entrepreneurs and professionals are receiving the same treatment, though without the media spotlight. There is a common thread in each case; a Muslim sounding name seems to have been the sole basis for detaining foreign visitors, and subjecting them to at times humiliating and offensive treatment.

Unquestionably, especially after 9/11, the United States, as with any sovereign country, has the right to protect its national security. There is a reason why visas, passports, and INS checkpoints are required at ports of entry. However, an important aspect of national security is adopting measures that exhibit common sense. It doesn't seem logical to believe that Al-Qaeda, not generally regarded as a stupid organization, will send only operatives into the United States who have Muslim sounding names. And how does the "King of Bollywood" or former president of India become a mortal danger to America's national security?

Islamophobia has run amok in the U.S., and it is actually undermining the nation's security and economic interests. One trend has already developed; America is gaining a reputation as a land that does not welcome guests with Muslim names. A growing number of students and entrepreneurs from Muslim countries are traveling to China in lieu of the United States. As America becomes increasingly seen as hostile to Muslims irrespective of who they are, while China is perceived as welcoming, these trends will translate into economic realities. Ultimately, there will be a price to pay, in terms of America's economic security, if it continues to inflict inexplicable humiliation among human beings who clearly harbor no ill intent towards the United States. There cannot be true national security without sanity and reason.

 

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Comments

[Hontas Farmer]

i fully agree with this. The rampant and unashamed Islamohobia that has been seen in America today is not helping (Particularly two cases in florida). The image that the terrorist thrive on is that of Islam Vs. the west. If muslims are harassed here that just becomes a recruiting tool for Al quaeda and other terrorist.

I have to admit that due to a certain coincidence of dates (this friday 21st Ramadan will also be 9/11/09) I a muslim am afraid that there could be an attack. Either by terrorist from overseas, or by some gung ho wanna be GI:JOE against the muslim community. If there is the atmosphere of hate an fear that has been bread since 911 will have played a role.

[yuhaniz]

you are right filger: arab students are flocking to china/malaysia and arab tourists are flocking to malaysia to the point that they are now considered a staple of the economy. every june and july malaysia awaits their return in the hundreds of thousands because they spend so much on hotels, food and shopping. i know part time taxi drivers who own their cars and permits who only work these two months of the year. many apartment complexes lie empty year round except when the arabs arrive to fill them. and they all tell the same story: these arab families used to go to disney world in florida or new york, paris or london. the visa and airport hassles/hu­miliations of the western world have led to them going to malaysia instead. and word of mouth keeps people coming (the average arab has 1,000 relatives.­...i have 3,000+....­so word of mouth is still the strongest promoter of anything in the middle east coz people trust someone they know who has experienced something then a tv commercial) if you like to travel please go to malaysia. it's the most welcoming most beautiful country in the world. cheap, too.

happy arab student and tourist

[tantrictim]

i think you should google china and uighyr and see just how friendly the COMMUNIST government of china is towards muslims

[Ergon]

Well you might be a 'progressive democrat' but your screen name seems to indicate you might not be entirely sympathetic about muslims being profiled, right?

[Ergon]

To devadasi

[sas]

I think this is an excellent article. I would, however point out that not all people who have had to undergo degrading treatment at US airports are Muslims. Case in point - John Abraham, one of India's most popular actors also has been detained at US airports. Abraham is of partly Christian background, so I think we are all living in glass houses when it comes to racial profiling.

[larry278]

This frisking of Muslims at US air ports since the USA has had Muslim communities for a long time. We have a championship fighter who is the greatest, Muhammed Ali who was born in Louisville, Ky. I'm one of many Americans who are proud of Ali & agree with Ali's modest & temperate statement that he's the greatest.
Why hassle peaceful Muslims? That is profiling at its worst. I'm a very fairs skinned American. I dated a Turkish/American lady who had skin as fair as mine. She had Azeri ancestors. The world of Islam includes people of all races. We have Muslim allies. Why hassle peaceful Muslims?

[devadasi]

I'm a progressive democrat but this is a bunch of propaganda. America has been very welcoming to Indian immigrants, visitors and culture. So the bollywood actor was detained for one hour to hustle his film....if he doesn't like our airport security then don't come here anymore. 'I was detained at a UK airport many years ago...I didn't go all ballastic.­....I was in someone else's country and the matter was cleared up within 2 hours. Look at your own backyard in India before you critisize us.