Muslims tread carefully around proposed mosque near ground zero

As public opposition to the proposed mosque near ground zero grows and Sept. 11 approaches, Muslims are preparing for anti-Islamic acts, encouraging adherents to participate in 9/11 remembrance ceremonies, and changing how they celebrate the end of Ramadan.

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The Islamic Circle of North America rescheduled its annual “Muslim Family Days” at Six Flags amusement parks, and the Islamic Cultural Center in Fresno, Calif., canceled its post-Ramadan carnival, which typically includes games, pony rides for kids, and Middle Eastern food.

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“We thought it might be misunderstood and create a wave of attacks on our faith and community,” Imam Seyed Ali Ghazvini, the cultural center’s religious leader, told the Los Angeles Times.

Following recent attacks and an increase in anti-Muslim rhetoric, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) issued a “precaution advisory” to members of the Arab, Muslim, South Asian and Sikh-American communities.

Among other things, it advises places of worship to have “an emergency plan that can be implemented should the need arise,” lists FBI field offices to report incidents, and urges parents to report incidents of bullying or harassment at schools.

This past week, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced a national public service announcement campaign featuring Muslims who were first responders during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and “designed to challenge the growing anti-Muslim bigotry sparked by opposition to the planned Park51 [Islamic center] project in Manhattan.”

“The stepped-up rhetorical and physical attacks on the American Muslim community and Islam require a positive, proactive response that will help counter the almost hysterical campaign of misinformation by a vocal minority of bigots,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “These public service announcements have the potential to reach millions of Americans with a message of religious inclusion and mutual understanding.”

Last month, CAIR issued an online “Teachable Moment Community Response Guide” to help Muslims organize local education and outreach initiatives tied to events such as a “National Day of Unity and Healing” on the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.