Posts Tagged ‘ Zeitoun ’

Islamic Center Controversy is Discriminatory

August 24th, 2010. By janem

A book I recently read has greatly influenced my opinion about the current Islamic issue—the controversy over the planned Islamic Center to be built near ground zero. I believe this book is so important, especially right now, given the current animosity toward Muslims. In fact, Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers, should be required reading in high school, just like “To Kill a Mockingbird”. The two books are similar– both tell a story of discrimination— except that the latter is fiction and Zeitoun is a true story.

Just days after hurricane Katrina, an American citizen from Syria was detained by the US government then inhumanely imprisoned without charges in a makeshift jail that sounds worse than Guantanamo Bay. Abdulrahman Zeitoun stayed in New Orleans after the flooding: He paddled from house to house in a canoe, helping neighbors and feeding dogs left behind. In return, the government treated him worse than an animal…

In August 2006 Kathy and Abdulrahman Zeitoun filed a lawsuit against the City of New Orleans, Mayor Ray Nagin, the state of Louisiana and the state police. The suit alleged false imprisonment and false arrest of Mr. Zeitoun during the aftermath of Hurricane. Katrina.  Here is the Disposition:

“Mr. Zeitoun was transported in the van to the Union Passenger train station in New Orleans, fingerprinted, photographed, and retained in police custody, where he remained for three days and suffered a large splinter for which he was denied medical treatment. On the third day, Appellants allege that Mr. Zeitoun was transported to the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, where he informed the employees of his religious beliefs which disallowed the consumption of pork, but that this request was disregarded, as well as requests for medical treatment. Next, Appellants assert that Mr. Zeitoun was brought to a maximum security prison, where his requests to telephone his wife and have medical treatment  were denied, and that although he was eventually permitted to use the telephone, he missed his turn because he fell asleep while waiting.”

Mr. Zeitoun was charged with looting and possession of stolen goods and bail was set at $75,000.00. Because he never made contact with Kathy or anyone outside the prison, he was unable to post bond—no one knew where he was, except the government. He was suspected of being a terrorist. In fact one of his guards called him “Taliban”.

(Unfortunately the lawsuit was thrown out, but the Zeitouns’ are trying again.)

Back to the Islamic Center. All white people aren’t considered KKK, so why are Muslims considered terrorists?

Shame on you, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada and Howard Dean, former national party chairman, for calling the proposed Islamic Center project “a real affront to those who lost their lives.” What happened to Abdulrahman Zeitoun mirrors this kind of mentality toward Muslims and that is why I hope every high school student will read the book, and then do everything they can to ensure that prejudice and discrimination won’t happen again. “In America every Muslim has no rights,” Zeitoun said.  “There are too many stories worse than mine.”

By the way, Dave Eggers has given all author proceeds of the book to the Zeitoun Foundation, which is “dedicated to rebuilding New Orleans and fostering interfaith understanding.”

Tags: Discrimination, Muslim discrimination, Zeitoun
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