The reaction of Somali Community from the wake of the Boston Marathon Bombing in April 15, 2013

The Reaction of the Somali Community from the Wake of the
Boston Marathon Bombing on April 15, 2013

                                                                   

 

The meeting was held at Yawkey Boys & Girls Club in Roxbury May 4, 2013 aimed to announce a message that the action taken by the Boston Marathon Bombers was wrong. It had nothing to do with Islam and therefore no innocent Muslim or the general public should be blame for it. Only those who are responsible for the attack should be blamed instead of the community as a whole. This gathering has brought a number of Somali residents, community leaders, students, religious leaders and some of the Somali business owners to reflect on the importance of unity in times like this and to pass community awareness to one another. Some of the Somali organizations that were present were the Somali Development Center (SDC), Boston Islamic Center, (Masjid Altaqwa) as well as the Butterfly Coffee Shop. Mainly the meeting was about condemning the terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon in April 15, 2013.
Hussein Fiin, a Somali community leader and the chairman of the Boston Islamic Center, opened the meeting and welcomed the audience and laid the format of the meeting, followed by Haarun Ahmed resident of Massachusetts recited the Quran to open the meeting as Islamic way of life followed by community keynote speakers.

 

 

At times like this there can be confusion, which is why the Somali community decided to host this meeting. Among the first people who spoke was Abdirahman Yusuf (CEO) of the Somali Development Center an organization that services the Somali community region wide. Abdirahman Yusuf, talked about how to be aware of the wrong thinking of the suicides of the Boston Marathon Bombers. “I have been in Boston many years; I have witnessed many things over and over. I will restate something that I’ve always said. I think incidents like this started with hate toward color, man, women, religion, and we should not be silent when incidents like the Boston Marathon Bombing or scenarios like it happens. Narrated by Abu Dawud, our Prophet (Peace be to him) advocated in hadith that “A man should help his brother whether he is a wrong-doer or is wronged. If he is a wrong–doer then he should stop him, and if he wronged, then he should defend him.” I believe that if the whole family had a stronger relationship among themselves, then the attack at Boston Marathon 2013 would’ve been avoided.” In the later part of his speech, Abdirahman Yusuf mentions that “The rights of the local community should not be violated as result of this incident.” He went on to say “There are no rules that can stop women from wearing their Hijab even though some ignorant people might mistake this symbol of faith as a symbol of terrorism.” Abdirahman also mentions how “one Somali Tax diver in another state was brave to call the cops when his passenger threatened him and harassed him. The passenger was arrested. We should pass awareness; anyone who felt harassed who cannot speak in this conference should come to my office. Do not let anyone to harbor hate towards any brother, sister, and anyone else. I remember in September 11, 2001 eight Somali women were harassed and this time I did not hear anything yet we work with the city, the Mayor office, the law enforcement community.”

Questions/Answers
Abdullahi Armaajo asked this question. “Can you clarify how you work with the law enforcement community and the Mayor Office?” Abdirahman Yusuf answered, “I was not born in here I was naturalized, I swore to defend my country. Anything I know that I think will help save lives and create peace I will do it. The day of the Marathon Bombing the Mayor’s office called me and I went to the office and told the office I will let them know anyone or anything I became aware of.”
Abdullahi Armajo the owner of the Butterfly coffee shop and a leader of the Somali Community also spoke at the meeting. “The Boston Marathon Bombing affected all the Muslims in this country. I think, I will like to give an advice. If the Media wants to talk to the Somali community regarding this incident we should let the leaders of the Masjid talk to them and not everyone. I also work with the politicians. We are citizens and if we can get twenty Somali people together who are willing to help the Somali community we can have a Somali person in office and to help our people.” (Abdullahi).

 

 

 

Well known to the Somali community, the Imam of Masjid Altqawa Sheikh, Yusuf Abdulle, was one of the speakers who spoke about the Boston Marathon Bombing. “All thanks are due to Allah who made us Muslims. Allah willing, I will try to say few things about the bombing of the Boston Marathon. The Muslims should voice and take a stand in situations like the Boston Marathon Bombing. You all know the Boston Marathon Bombing affect all the people young and old, and nationwide. For example, the day of the incident we missed the Jumac (Friday) prayer and the next day we had to dismiss the students from the Masjid. Still the investigation is going on, anywhere this type of incident take place, any corner of the globe whether it is Russia, Nairobi, Somalia, it has nothing to do with the Islam. The prophet (peace be to him) did not liked transgressors and even stopped people to upset animals.

He stopped people who used bird to practice their target and those who took the babies of the birds which caused worrisome. In the same matter any incident that affect innocent lives or can cause problem to anyone, we Muslims should take position from it. At the same time Muslims should not be blamed and should not accept any blames. We should not be guilt anything that has nothing to do with us. Anyone who gets harassed should notify. In this country we have rights and we owe rights to it. Our goal should be how to be just in our religion. Did anyone of us help someone to become Muslim? The prophet (peace be to him) used to worry people may died without being Muslim. We have people who we go school together, work and live with. We should live with our neighbors and everyone with justice and righteousness.

We should help each other to straight one another to be righteous; if one of us does one thing wrong it will affect all of us. Stay away problems because problems do not only affect those who commit it but it affects all of us and we should not afraid to tell our leaders. I like to conclude two things. One, we have Mosques, communities, we told the organizers of the meeting to meet all the Somalis even though the idea came from Mosque Altqawa. We should pass the mentality of if one person brings idea we should reject it right way instead we should be together. Secondly, anything that happens we should go back to Allah. We should ask Allah to help us, the solution is to go back to Allah, go to the Mosques, and get connected to the Mosque leaders. No Sheikh will give out verdicts for anyone to kill an innocent person that is why it is important to connect to Sheikhs” (Abdulle).

Questions/Answers

Ali asked Question. “First I like to acknowledge all the people that are here and the people who organized this meeting. Second, how can we know before incidents like this happen? Abdirahman Yusuf mention the day of the Boston Marathon marathon Bombing he was contact by the Mayor’s office and I do not know if the Masjid got contacted with. If we want to live peace with the people we take the same Train every day, the people that we walk, see and work in daily bases, then how can we give them awareness to non Muslim communities that we want to live peace with them? Show them good courtesy, manners, good personality and be hospitable to them. Those that you showed good character will advocate for the Muslims. Show them Islam. Tell them good things and do not let them to blame you instead educate them”.

Abdullahi Afgaab asked question. “If we meet people with the same mentally as the bombers if we tell them the law enforcement is there a problem”. There are two answers to this question on one level you do not want to blame anyone without incredible evidence. Second, it is easier to jail that person instead of causing great harm to other people. If you meet some like that you should bring him to the community leaders and Sheiks. If that person is doing something or you notice signs we should stop him immediately”.

Hussein Fiin also asked, “Can the Sheikhs be blamed for the actions of the bombers”? This can happen in any country and regardless of their religion. Today do not find a lot of people who do listens Sheiks but you do find people who listen the internet. One bad person his action cannot be blame for any religion, any group of people. We cannot say particular person is effluence by these guys and that is why they did it” {Abdulle}.

Questions/Answers

Ali asked this question. “First I like to acknowledge all the people that are here and the people who organized this meeting. Second, how can we know before incidents like this happen? Abdirahman Yusuf mentioned the day of the Boston Marathon Bombing when he was contacted by the Mayor’s office and I do not know if the Masjid was also contacted. How can we live peacefully with the people that we take the same train with every day, the people that we walk, see and work with in daily bases? How can we give awareness to non Muslim communities that we want to live peacefully with them? Yusuf Abdulle answered, “Show them good courtesy, manners, good personality and be hospitable to them. Those that you showed good character will advocate for the Muslims. Show them Islam. Tell them good things and do not let them to blame you instead educate them”.
Abdullahi Afgaab asked question. “If we meet people with the same mentally as the bombers if we tell them the law enforcement is there a problem?” Yusuf Abdulle answered, “There are two answers to this question on one level you do not want to blame anyone without credible evidence. Second, it is easier to jail that person instead of causing great harm to other people. If you meet some like that you should bring him to the community leaders and Sheiks. If that person is doing something or you notice signs we should stop him immediately”.
Hussein Fiin also asked, “Can the Sheikhs be blamed for the actions of the bombers”? Yusuf Abdulle answered, “This can happen in any country and regardless of their religion. Today we do not find a lot of people who do listens Sheiks but you do find people who listen the internet. One bad person’s actions cannot be used to blame for any religion or group of people. We cannot say a particular person has influenced the Marathon Bombers.”

Deeqo Jabriil, a Somali community leader and women’s activist, spoke at the meeting as well. “We needed this meeting. I am happy about this meeting. What happened on April 15, 2013, we as Somali community should speak about it. We, as Muslims community in Boston, are against this. Every immigrant community goes through three phases, and we, as Somali people, at the last phase which is the participation phase. We should be leaders. Many of our teenagers are in the prison system. They are not single mothers or single fathers, they are our children. We should talk about this issue internally it is good to talk about external issues. All the leaders in the community are not helping the Somali community as they tell us. We have no African elected, Muslim elected, or Somali elected government official. We should vote for one of us. We are Somalis we should stop the division. There are people who wear different hats. Today he is Arab, tomorrow African American, and next Somali. We are not black Americans we are Somali. If you are evicted from your home what are your our rights? If your rent goes up what will you do? If your Masjid is faced with a problem, what you will do? Let us build a Somali institution, let us build a data base. Let us help you to teach your rights. Every neighborhood has a crime watch, let us be part of it. We are in America, we are not in Somalia.” 

Abdulqadir Hindi, a Somali community leader said “I want to put forward a couple of points. First point I want to say that we are against the Boston Marathon Bombing. How can we show the people good manners? We should wear T-shirt that carries the image and the name of the Mosque Altaqwa. We should volunteer to do community work. We should show the community who we are before people label us, we should show people good images.  Secondly, if anyone advocates for Alshabab that is a sign to destroy the Somali community, and anyone who is resident of Boston who is advocating for Alshabab is causing a trouble for us. Alshabab is not one of us. The last guy they killed was a Imam for forty years. For eight years they have been killing people. We will tell the law enforcement if you do not stay away from Alshabab”

Last but not least Hassan Warfa, a Somali community leader and former Boston public schools teacher, spoke about the Boston Marathon incident “I want to give advice, thank you all whose came to the meeting. We had been talking about the Somali community for while. The Somali people did not do anything wrong neither the Somali community nor the Muslims should be blamed for the incident. If we do not tell the Media and those who blame us wrongly then who will tell them. The Somali people only harm one another not outside communities in my opinion. We need tell the general public to know that we are peaceful, we live here and we are not those who break their oaths. We need to cross this message to the citizens of this nation that we are Muslims. If you are American the sign of the Dollar says “We trust in God” that indicates we are religious nation therefore we should be careful the ways we speak” (Warfa).

Hussein Fiin concluded the meeting and announced whoever missed this meeting should join us next time.
Email Hussein Fiin at xaqsooc@yahoo.com for any questions.
Written by Abdulkhaaliq A. Farah
Editted by Khadra Mohamed

 

Any question Email Hussein Fiin at xaqsooc@yahoo.com

Writer: Abdikhayr A. Farah