Denver Muslim students stand tall in the face of intolerance

SHAFAQNA- When Alaa Atwi went outside to the packed school grounds the Monday before spring break, she expected to eat lunch with a friend and head to class afterward. Unfortunately, the hijab she wore caught the attention of Ron Underwood, a hostile preacher. Atwi found herself defending her faith.

Then, a student and follower of the preacher approached her.

“When he came up to me he was like, ‘I hate all Muslims. Muhammad is a pedophile. I spit on his grave, so I spit on you.” Atwi said.

And he spit on her.

“I didn’t really think there was that much hate against Muslims,” she said. “Especially on a public campus where it’s so diverse.”

After last month’s terrorist bombings left 35 people dead in Belgium, Muslim-Americans faced renewed scrutiny amid a heightened political atmosphere during this presidential cycle.

“I’ve already heard Ted Cruz’s Idea on wanting to add more surveillance of Muslim neighborhoods.” said Nadeen Ibrahim, a member of the Muslim Students Association of Auraria Campus.

The negative rhetoric coming out of Donald Trump’s campaign regarding Muslims has made Atwi fearful, who said that although she’s endured stares from people around her, she never had to worry about the possibility of a physical attack. Her father’s fear for her safety even led to him purchasing a Taser for her.

After police arrested the student who spit on her, they found a knife hidden in his backpack. He was later charged with assault.

After a gunman killed three people and wounded nine at a Plaed Parenthood in Colorado Springs no one demanded Christians apologize for the attack, Ibrahim said.

After San Beardino, however, Muslim-Americans were forced to distance themselves from the two suspects responsible for the shootings.

Ibrahim said it’s emotionally exhausting, being horrified by the attacks like any normal person while also dealing with all the backlash.

“I condemn any form of horrible crime that’s carried out against humanity by any means,” Ibrahim said. “As a humanitarian, I stand for all humanity.”

Fortunately for Ibrahim, living in Colorado has been more of a positive experience than a negative one.

After Brussels, both Muslim and non-Muslim friends reached out to Ibrahim who worried about her physical safety. She’s even received flowers, letters and notes from other people as way of letting her know that she is part of the community, and that they stand with her and for her protection.

After she was spit on, MSU Denver moved swiftly to support Atwi. Professors offered to walk her to classes, and the university is seeking to expel the student. The case has also gone up all the way to the District Attoey.

Despite never being attacked himself, Osaid Sasi, president of the MSA Auraria Chapter, still fears for the safety of his sisters. The hijab stands out.

The MSA tables every Monday from eleven to one in the Tivoli, where interested students can lea more about the Islamic faith and community. MSA also hold meetings every Thursday from 2-3:30. Ibrahim is also working to have the US Attoey General’s office give a talk about hate crimes on campus.

For Atwi, however, the damage is already done.

“I’m scared to go to school. I don’t even go the same route to my classes,” she said. “It takes me longer, but my professors understand. I just really don’t feel safe anymore.”