Peace be upon you,
On Friday, Sept. 26, around 10 pm the Islamic Society of Greater Dayton was attacked. Muslim children and women who were attending Ramadan Night Prayers were the victims of a gas attack. According to police two men sprayed something through a open window. The children and a woman in the room felt affects from the chemical and the mosque was evacuated. HAZMAT crews were called and they started testing for chemicals but all of the tests came back negative.
Tarek Sabagh a board member of the Mosque said many members of the mosque think the attack was provoked by a DVD called "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" which is being mailed out to homes through newspapers by the John McCain campaign.
source:
Dayton Daily NewsMY THOUGHTS:
Aside from the obvious shock, anger, and disgust I feel I think that is this incident was completely ignored by the major media. I didn't see any news segment, radio or tv, about it. This type of stuff needs to be brought up, people need to be questioned, and authorities should be help accountable!
I am shocked that something like this could happen, but it is expected to a certain degree. Ignorant people will act out in violence. But I am more disgusted by the complete contempt and disregard for the American Muslims. The distant, facts only report is really typical of the media when it comes to Muslim victims. If you read the Dayton Daily News' coverage of the incident you can actually feel the coldness. For example there were no statements from the victims. There was one, ONLY ONE, statement from a board member and coincidently it happened to be a quote deemphasizing the incident.
Where is the fair unbiased reporting?
Why wasn't there a quote from a victim explaining how she felt? Or a quote from a member explaining why they feel that this is a provoked attack, or a hate crime. Or a quote from a local non Muslim resident explaining their thoughts on the incident.
IF this were a attack from a Muslim the media would be splashing this thing all across the radios and tvs. There would be coverage of the victims, the victim's family, the residents, some random "expert", how the incident relates to the overall "War on Terror", and of course any and all links to international terrorist organizations, regardless of any evidence. Yet, here we see the police and media taking such great efforts to limit speculation and deemphasize any leads.
Here is a personal account from a blogger who had connections to the victims.
"She told me that the gas was sprayed into the room where the babies and children were being kept while their mothers prayed together their Ramadan prayers. Panicked mothers ran for their babies, crying for their children so they could flee from the gas that was burning their eyes and throats and lungs. She grabbed her youngest in her arms and grabbed the hand of her other daughter, moving with the others to exit the building and the irritating substance there.
"The paramedic said the young one was in shock, and gave her oxygen to help her breathe. The child couldn't stop sobbing.
"This didn't happen in some far away place -- but right here in Dayton, and to my friends. Many of the Iraqi refugees were praying together at the Mosque Friday evening. People that I know and love.
"I am hurt and angry. I tell her this is NOT America. She tells me this is not Heaven or Hell -- there are good and bad people everywhere.
"She tells me that her daughters slept with her last night, the little one in her arms and sobbing throughout the night. She tells me she is afraid, and will never return to the mosque, and I wonder what kind of country is this where people have to fear attending their place of worship?
"The children come into the room, and tell me they want to leave America and return to Syria, where they had fled to from Iraq. They say they like me, ... , and other American friends -- but they are too afraid and want to leave. Should a 6 and 7 year old even have to contemplate the safety of their living situation?
"Did the anti-Muslim video circulating in the area have something to do with this incident, or is that just a bizarre coincidence? Who attacks women and children?
"What am I supposed to say to them? My words can't keep them safe from what is nothing less than terrorism, American style. Isn't losing loved ones, their homes, jobs, possessions and homeland enough? Is there no place where they can be safe?
"She didn't want me to leave her tonight, but it was after midnight, and I needed to get home and write this to my friends. Tell me -- tell me -- what am I supposed to say to them?"
Sources:
Daily KOSI would like to thank Chris Rodda for having the courage and decency to dig a little deeper and shed light on other views.
Also, I think that American Muslims should stand up.
1) Muslims should write to the Dayton Muslim Community and send their condolences.
2) Muslims should contact CAIR, or other local leadership and ask their advice on what to do about this event.
3) Muslims should write to major networks and ask why they felt that this issue wasn't important enough to be covered.
4) Muslims should help the Dayton Muslim community hold their local authorities accountable. (Making sure the police follow through with their job and not just sweep this incident under the rug.)
May God protect us all.
~ Peace till next time… MoCo
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