Muslims reach out to authorities, each other

By Timothy Pratt (contact)

Tuesday, June 1, 2004 | 11:02 a.m.

On one side of the Las Vegas Valley, not too far from the glitter and hum of Boulder Highway's casinos, U.S. Attorney Sharon Lever recently learned the hard way -- by being scolded in front of several hundred Muslim men -- that if she is going to stand at the podium of a mosque, she should cover her head and legs.

Meanwhile, in another part of the valley, in the Islamic Information Center on Maryland Parkway, Mustafa Yunus is putting the finishing touches on pamphlets he hopes to distribute at casinos. The fliers are aimed at informing the Muslims that may be among the 36 million tourists who pass through Las Vegas each year where to seek help in an emergency or where to pray.

In different ways, the ongoing war on terrorism, including recently stepped-up federal alerts, is leading thousands of Muslims in Southern Nevada to reach out to authorities and each other.

In both cases, the valley's Muslim community, estimated at about 10,000, has certain characteristics that make it a laboratory of sorts in what are fast-changing, often challenging, times for followers of Islam in America, said Aslam Abdullah, editor in chief of two Muslim publications: the Minaret, of Los Angeles, and Muslim Observer, of Detroit.

"It has leadership that is taking the initiative in responding to the war against terrorism, is very diverse, and then there is the fact that it is a tourist destination and that makes it a target of sorts," Abdullah said in the lobby of the mosque. Minutes earlier American Muslims, Africans, Pakistanis, Afghanis and Iranians had filed into the parking lot outside, as the afternoon sun hit its zenith following the 1 p.m. sermon and prayers.

The editor said that Las Vegas was the first of six cities where federal authorities have been invited to address worshippers. The idea is to link those communities to authorities in the wake of last week's terrorism alerts announced by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller. The other cities are Miami, Atlanta, Boston, New York and Los Angeles.

Abdullah delivered the guest sermon at the Jamia Masjid mosque at 4730 E. Desert Inn Road Friday, followed by Lever, FBI joint terrorism task force supervisor Al Pisterzi and Las Vegas Metro Police Homeland Security Bureau Officer Kenneth Lindsay.

The sermon's message was simple, yet forceful.

"These are difficult days and difficult times for all of us ... going through humiliations and tensions ... facing different kinds of challenges," Abdullah told the 200 or so worshippers.

Abdullah recommended that Muslims respond to those challenges by standing up for their rights if targeted by authorities or those who would link terrorism to their faith; showing that true Muslims are nonviolent; and cooperating with authorities, watchful and ready to answer any questions.

The local and national authorities repeated Abdullah's message, while having to sort out Lever's gaffe. She apologized, saying she wasn't aware of the modest attire Muslims expect of women, including covered heads and legs.

Khalid Khan, the organizer of Friday's event at the mosque, later took responsibility for the uncomfortable moment, saying he should have told Lever what was expected of her beforehand.

Lindsay said the war on terrorism had brought him to study Islam. The bureau he works in was formed last year.

"You need to understand the culture you're dealing with," he said.

He said building trust between authorities and the Muslim community was difficult, particularly since many come from countries where authorities are seen with mistrust.

"Many people come from third world countries where the law is oppressive," Lindsay said. "It's an uphill battle."

After his sermon, Abdullah presented a letter the Muslim Public Affairs Council, a national organization he advises, sent Friday to Ashcroft and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge. The letter indicates the desire to hold a meeting between a group of U.S. Muslim leaders and Department of Justice officials, "to develop effective methods in identifying those who are determined to harm our security."

Khan said authorities had not interrogated him or members of his mosque recently, but that he would cooperate with information such as a list of about 300 local Muslims who receive a newsletter.

"If they ask, we'll give them information," Khan said.

Yunus said that he supports Khan's effort, but that it is equally important to help Muslims reach out to each other in today's climate.

"I know we have to work with authorities -- but I want to make sure we take care of each other," he said.

"Since September 11, I have been extremely concerned that if something else should happen ... that every Muslim ... should communicate with each other,' said, Yunus, who was born in Detroit.

"I'm trying to help Muslims organize themselves, on a Muslim level," he said.

The pamphlets he and the information center hope to distribute soon are part of that effort, he said. Similarly, he wants local Muslims to know how to get in touch with each other in the event of an emergency and how to help each other if targeted by others.

At the same time, he said, Muslims in America shouldn't have to make an effort to publicize their opposition to violence.

"Muslims don't need public relations to show they're good," he said. "We just have to be good."