Paris tragedy stokes Islamophobic sentiment in U.S.

Islamic Extremism

The attacks in Paris are generating a particularly bitter response in the United States. Islamophobia is on the rise again, with citizens and politicians alike spewing hostile rhetoric. Many American-Muslims are comparing it to the atmosphere that developed after Sept. 11.

CCTV America’s Hendrik Sybrandy reports.

The choreographed attacks and the large loss of life echo what happened in the U.S. on September 11, 2001. Syrian-Americans say the reaction to these terrorist acts has been similar as well.

“It feels like I’m walking around in 2001 again most definitely,” said Obeid Kaifo.

Kaifo is working to help bring Syrian refugees to Denver, Colorado and he’s encountered clear hostility after the Paris terrorist attacks. He says anti-Muslim sentiments tell him he needs to do a better job of speaking out and correcting misimpressions, assuming people will listen.

“There’s a lot of hatred and there’s a lot of misconceptions of what Islam is and they’re applying it now, these misconceptions, to the refugees,’ he said. “The concern and the anger make sense, but we don’t want to be stupid.”

Colorado resident Amal Kassir has noticed it too. Because of her appearance, she is called names frequently, and said the Paris attacks have quickly become politicized.

“I get private messages saying we should be sending all the refugees and Muslims to internment camps in Wyoming and things like that,” Kassir said. “That puts a lot of Muslim people in danger, that puts me in danger, my family members, Syrian refugees who might have just come here. It’s scary.”

Soon after the Paris attacks, feces and torn pages of the Quran were left outside a Texas mosque. A Colorado bookstore with ISIS in its title was vandalized for the fourth time this year.