Community urged not to target Middle Easterners

By Christina Teller
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Tuesday’s terrorist attack was centered on the East Coast,
but the effects rippled across the nation, hitting UCLA and
Westwood as well.

Some U.S. officials have identified Saudi terrorist Osama bin
Laden ““ who has been linked to the World Trade Center bombing
in 1993 and the 1998 bombing of a U.S. Embassy in Tanzania ““
as the prime suspect in the attack.

The tragedy has affected Americans in all walks of life, but
those of Middle Eastern descent may experience an additional
repercussion: blame.

Bilal Khan, president of the Muslim Student Association,
acknowledged the fact that Muslims may be targeted with blame for
the attacks.

“It’s important to understand that we don’t
know who has done these actions yet,” Khan said. “Just
like all other Americans, American Muslims are shocked and feel for
the families of the victims.”

Members of the UCLA community, including Undergraduate Student
Association Council President Karren Lane and political science
professor Steven Spiegel, hope people will unite in the face of
tragedy.

“I have faith in the campus community that there will be
positive dialogue and that groups will not have a negative reaction
to this but will serve as leaders,” Lane said.

Spiegel concurred.

“It would be very sad if we fall into the trap of the
terrorist ““ the hatred is the kind of life that we Americans
don’t want,” he said. “I hope that there is no
discrimination against any particular group on campus.”

Community leaders have urged UCLA members to not jump to
conclusions without hard facts.

“It is important for us to provide support for all members
of our community,” UCLA Chancellor Albert Carnesale said.
“At this stage we don’t even know who committed the
acts that caused the great calamity this morning, and if we did
know, we should be most careful to avoid guilt by
association.”

And though the connection of bin Laden to Tuesday’s
attacks is speculative, it has not been taken lightly, as Ghaith
Mahmood, former president of MSA, experienced Tuesday.

“A few sisters have said that they’ve already gotten
a lot of harassment around Westwood,” Mahmood said of his his
friend, who was reportedly called a terrorist by two men walking
by.

Throughout the day, news networks reported on the events in New
York and Washington and cut to scenes of Palestinians
celebrating.

Khan and Mahmood, along with Fadi Amer, former president of the
United Arab Society, expressed concern over Americans’
interpretation of the celebration shown.

“They did show a few people, but I don’t think
that’s the popular opinion,” Khan said. “Islam
doesn’t teach the celebrating of the death of innocent
people. I think it’s misplaced emotion.”

With contributions from Andy Garcia and Scott Schultz, Daily
Bruin Senior Staff.