Tampa Muslims resume their routines nervously

By BABITA PERSAUD

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 18, 2001

TAMPA -- At Monday morning's assembly at Universal Academy of Florida, one of two Muslim schools in Tampa, one child asked: "Are we going to go to war?"

Answered principal Magda Saleh: "We hope they find a solution without going to full-scale war."

"How long is it going to be on the news?" another child asked.

"For months," answered a teacher.

But the question most asked by the children gathered in the courtyard of this private school on Sligh Avenue was: Are we still going to have lunch outside like we normally do?

Yes, the principal said.

Last week, fears of a backlash caused both Muslim schools in Tampa, Universal Academy and Islamic Academy, to close, but Monday signs that life was returning to normal were evident.

The fear has eased, mostly because the Tampa Bay area has not seen the kind of anti-Arab incidents witnessed in parts of the United States, like Chicago, where nearly 300 tried to mob a Muslim school.

"It really has not been bad in Tampa," Saleh said.

Still, some incidents caused concern. On Thursday, a mosque in Hernando was shot at and a north Tampa home was vandalized.

Muslim women who wear the head scarf required by their religion were the target of shouts and taunts at the University of South Florida and at grocery stores.

Local Muslim leaders were quick to react against a backlash by expressing public support of the victims and condemnation of the terrorism.

They took out full-page newspaper ads, "A Message from Your Muslim Neighbors," wrote editorials and showed up in full force to give blood.

Sunday night, Muslim leaders invited local Christian churches to a prayer session at the Islamic school in Temple Terrace. Nearly 400 people attended, representing 23 denominations.

It was a last-minute event, thought of Friday by Muslim leaders, said Sami Al-Arian, a community leader and principal of Islamic Academy. "We never reached out to so many churches at one time," Al-Arian said.

On Monday, both of Tampa's Muslim schools returned to a regular routine, though with some apprehension.

A parent at Islamic Academy dropped her four children off and then stayed at the school, which she normally doesn't do.

At Universal Academy, teachers were told to keep children away from gates for safety. Sheriff's deputies still patrol the grounds.

The fear many Muslims now have is for their relatives still in the Middle East.

At Universal Academy, Zinab Fayiz, 16, said her father's family is in Afghanistan and family members have not been in contact since Tuesday.

"I don't want war," she said, her voice quivering. "I'm afraid of what the U.S. government will do."

- Babita Persaud can be reaced at (813) 226-3322 or persaud@sptimes.com.

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