Muslims honor 9-11 victims at prayer service

"Many Muslims died in that attack, side by side with Americans," said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Muslims continue to deal with a backlash against them, including verbal assaults, discrimination, harassment and the desecration of mosques, he said during the Orange County service attended by about 75 people.

About 2,200 hate crimes against Muslims were reported to authorities in the last year, he said.

The vigil service included a prayer and reading for Nasima Simjee, 38, a Southern California Muslim woman who was among the victims of the World Trade Center attacks in New York.

"Nasima was so very caring and trusting," Arefa Simjee, 27, of Westminster, who spoke about her cousin and the terrorist attack. "It's been very hard for many Muslims to deal with this because we are Americans."

Simjee grew up in Westminster and lived in New York.

The service recognized nearly two dozen local officials and religious leaders who worked to promote understanding after the attacks, including Orange County Sheriff Mike Corona, the Rev. Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral Ministries and the regional director of the U.S. Justice Department, Ronald Wakabayashi.

"If it was not for their leadership and courage during this period of time, many of us would not be here today," said Huma Ahmed, an aide to Congresswoman Grace Napolitano.

A poll conducted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations found that three of four Muslims experienced kindness from people of other faiths after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Still, 57% of American Muslims said they experienced bias or discrimination after Sept. 11, and 87% knew someone who was the subject of discrimination.

Uploaded September 9, 2002