Stand up for Your Rights
By Naveed Khan
Pleasanton , CA
Bin Laden’s elimination comes as a big relief. A great global threat has been eliminated and it is time to move on. Nobody has suffered more - physically, emotionally, financially and socially - than the Muslims residing in Western democracies. They have been openly discriminated against since 9/11. People would be reluctant to admit this though Muslims are viewed with suspicion and subjected to surveillance.
Such surveillance and interrogation often results in infringement of fundamental rights. People of Muslim appearance have been humiliated and subjected to hate crimes. We cannot just close our eyes and pretend that everything is alright for Muslims in North America and Europe. The truth is that they are no longer treated as equal citizens in Western democracies.
Muslims of USA have no reason to be apologetic about their religion. Bin Laden did not represent Muslims of America, nor did the 19 terrorists belonged to the local Muslim community. Now, with the new situation American Muslims must demand an end to discrimination, racial profiling and stand up for their rights in the Western democracies. This is a just and respectable way to move forward.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
