Thursday, October 20, 2011

Local Somali Community Reacts to Terror Trial

After a full day of deliberating - still no verdict in the terrorism case against two Rochester women. Amina Farah Ali and Hawo Mohamed Hassan are accused of funneling money to Al-Shabab.

The women maintain they were just raising money for charity. The Somali Muslim community has watched the trial with growing interest but also a skeptical eye. Those we talked to say terrorism has no place in America and if these women are found guilty, most agree they should be penalized to the full extent of the law. Even if it means being secretly watched by the FBI, many Somali American Muslims say protecting other Americans is what matters.

"From our perspective, if anybody's here to cause problems or cause conflict to the American people or to human people her in Rochester - in general, it should be looked into, it should be followed," says Abdul Mohamed.

"If they wiretap my telephone as being a realtor for many years, the only thing they could hear is me selling homes or land," says long-time resident, Mohamed Nur. "But if there is any lines coming over that is terroristic, they have the rights to surveillance on anything. they're doing their job."

But other Muslims say there is a line that shouldn't be crossed.

"I have no issue of our law enforcement agencies watching specific groups of they can guarantee that they do not tread on the law, on their rights," says Muhawesh.

Sheikh Odeh Muhawesh says associating terrorism with Islam is natural based on the last century. From the Israeli-Palestine conflicts to 9/11 attacks and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But he says American Muslims shouldn't have to pay for it.

"Muslims in America are truly victims. victims first of the September 11th attacks and secondly of being a small minority where everybody is focused on them," says Muhawesh. "The worst mistake Muslims- American Muslims can do is to segregate themselves,"

And community interaction is something everyone agrees will help change the stereotypes.

"Rochester's a very safe community, very uh- what's it called a very welcoming community, very giving, very helpful, you just want to give the same- what's it called, help you got here," says Mohamed. The Somali Muslim community will keep a close eye on the trial in Minneapolis as it resumes Wednesday morning.

Source: KAALTV

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