As the Islamic holy month of Ramadan ends and the Eid ul-Fitr festival begins today, celebrations by Colorado Muslims could be dampened by national controversies over mosque building and Koran burning.
Whether it be the hostility toward a proposed Islamic center near ground zero in New York City or a Florida pastor’s threat, apparently suspended as of Thursday afternoon, to burn Korans outside his church on the anniversary of Sept. 11, Muslims are worried. They are either not attending events or are fearfully attending, said Imam Ibrahim Kazerooni of the Islamic Center of Al-Beit in Lakewood.
There also is a misunderstanding by some non-Muslims, Kazerooni said Thursday afternoon, that Eid ul-Fitr celebrations — long determined by the Muslim lunar calendar — were deliberately planned this year to nearly coincide with the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
“These all combine for a cumulative effect on the Muslim community,” Kazerooni said. “A number of people do feel isolated and threatened. Some people will stay away.”
Muslim students at the University of Colorado at Boulder have been disturbed by hostile reactions to the New York mosque proposal, said assistant professor Nabil Echchaibi, director of the Center for Media, Religion and Culture.
“Usually around Ramadan, students would be organizing communal fasting or holding events at the mosque or here at the student center, but I think this year, they have been rather low- key about it,” Echchaibi said. “A lot of mosques have decided to do a rather muted type of ceremony — prayers and no big celebration afterward.”
The spokesman for CU’s Muslim Student Association declined to comment, except to say that Ramadan observances by CU students had no relevance to national events. He asked that his name not be used in this report.
“It’s an emotionally charged climate,” Echchaibi said. “There is an onslaught of attacks in the media. Even some non-Muslims were a little bit taken by surprise that there is so much hate that is bubbling near the surface. You can see a sense of loss among the students. They don’t understand.”
The interpretation that building an Islamic center near ground zero is about Muslims claiming the 9/11 attacks to be a victory means equating all Muslims with the terrorists responsible for the attacks, Echchaibi said.
“This is a very viral message that’s been circulating,” Echchaibi said, “that Muslims can’t be trusted; they are disloyal.”
Yet Imam Karim Abu Zaid of the Colorado Muslim Society sees it differently. He said the spirit of Ramadan — a month-long period of daytime fasting and reflection — is an internal reality unaffected by external events.
“We’re enjoying the end of Ramadan,” Zaid said. “Our sense of joy is internal. If you’ve fasted, you were able to win over yourself. It’s a personal triumph.”
Zaid said he has told Muslims to go about their business.
“I feel extremely secure here,” he said. “That’s where faith comes in.”
Gainesville, Fla., pastor Terry Jones should simply be ignored, he said, rather than given an international platform.
“If (Jones) is not willing to open the Koran, read it or understand it, then we recommend he burn it,” Zaid said.
Electa Draper: 303-954-1276 or edraper@denverpost.com
