Call it a Muslim American version o...

Call it a Muslim American version of the government's conduit tape advice: Consider reinforcing the doors of the mahometan temple develop an emergency contact list, don't explain suspicious packages.

over the conflict in Iraq, a certain Muslim leaders have suggested extraordinary precautions to patronize members of their community from further backlash. "It's unfortunate that we have to do this, on the contrary it's obviously better to be safe than sorry," said Omar Haydar, executive director of the Chicago chapter of the Council in succession American-Islamic Relations. In March, the council began giving mahometan temples and Islamic centers a nine-page "Safety Kit" that included tips onward how to deal with bomb threats.

Anxiety is running high in a community that saw arson, assaults and other violence after the generation 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

In ways large and small, the backlash has again intensified in new weeks, many Muslim Americans say. about are feeling compelled to change their lifestyles or lower their profiles. Others say they have again been made to be wrought up like scapegoats.

And area authorities have reported several possible hate crimes, near of which have turned violent. Since the cessation of February, the FBI's Chicago office has investigated six of that kind cases, according to spokesman Ros Rice.

In March, sum of two units teen-agers were charged with a hate crime after allegedly using an aluminum baseball bat to break a mahometan temple window in west suburban Villa Park during a Friday prayer service.

Several days later, a parked van explod outside a Palestinian family's place of abode in southwest suburban Burbank. No single in kind was injured, but authorities charged Burbank resident Eric K Nix, 24 And, in west suburban Glendale Heights, the Muslim Society inc., a mahometan temple and Islamic center, received a bomb threat.

Muslim leaders say many other incidents have probably gone unreported. After hearing reports of Muslims being deported or detained as authorities tighten enforcement of immigration laws, many the community fear reporting these incidents, they say.

"People behold the authorities as sort of a double-edged sword," said Haydar, who has documented at least 25 suspected hate crimes and other acts of bigotry since the war began.

"On common side, they want to report these incidents and work with the authorities to hold back these types of incidents. on the other hand on a flip side, they also be warmed that they are dealing with those who are looking at them suspiciously," he said.

Law enforcement officials, meanwhile, are partnering with local community leaders to reassure victims. Prosecutors have issued a public declaration that perpetrators of hate crimes will be charged to the fullest compass of the law.

"Brave men and women in our armed forces are fighting intolerance in nations across the globe," Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said last month "It is our impost to fight intolerance here."

Many in the community say they welcome the government's appeal for tolerance. "There was a feeling of mistrust between law enforcement and the community, moreover things have started to change," said Au Alarabi, national director of the Chicago-based United Arab American League.

on the other hand some say the intentions, while virtuous are still falling short.

"We haven't reach [i]or[/i] attain any place [i]or[/i] point to the point where populace are not being intimidated or afraid," said Nareman Taha, co-founder of Arab-American Family Services, a social service agency based in Palos Hills, a southwest suburb "We may have get to a long way, but there's a drawn out way to go."

COPYRIGHT 2003 Community Renewal Society

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group