By Samana Siddiqui

Have you noticed your boss, supervisor or co-workers have been having a hard time looking at you straight in the eye in the last few days? Have the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC been causing problems for you as a Muslim in your workplace?

If they have, you're not alone. Many, many Muslim Americans of Arab, Pakistani, and African background are going through the same thing. While in extreme cases, harassment may occur, most of the time, bosses and co-workers are at a loss in trying to relate to their Muslim American counterparts. They are still processing what has happened, and given the media finger pointing towards "Islamic …", they may be struggling to figure out how to deal with their coworker.

Don't be offended by it. Take it as an opportunity. While it's tempting to hide out in your cubicle and avoid contact and communication, this is the worst thing you and Muslim employees can do. It is now, more than necessary to be pro-active and vocal.

Here are a few things you and Muslim co-workers can do to alleviate the tension at your workplace:

1. Send a thoughtful memo to all at job

Send a memo to all, including your boss, supervisor and all employees. It could be a thoughtful prayer for the victims. Or you can decide to simply send a memo suggesting that the company organizes a blood drive (see point number number three below). A separate memo can be sent asking co-workers to donate money for the cause (see point number two below). Or warning people about those who are raising gas prices or internet scams raising funds for the victims. Point is to communicate.

You may want to use our sample statement of condemnation as a template for your own memo. Or if you found a good statement from a Muslim or Pakistani organization issued in the wake of the bombings that says all that you want to say, personalize it and send it to your boss and co-workers.

In addition, if you have a company newsletter or some other publication that is published weekly or daily, get this message published on behalf of all of the Muslims at your workplace. You can also post the message on all of the company’s bulletin boards, if you get permission to do that.

Make sure to respect the rules of the publication (i.e. the word count of messages, the deadline to get the piece in by, etc.).

One Muslim employee at IBM simply sent out an email of prayer for the victims to his co-workers who responded in a very positive manner. One recipient said "Amen" to the message. Another made it clear he had no hard feelings towards his Muslim co-worker.

Another Muslim in Chicago distributed a local Muslim community press release condemning the incident and supporting the victims to his boss and all of his co-workers. He asked them to take a minute out of their busy schedules to read the release. It broke the ice which was created between this Muslim and other coworkers after the incident.

2. Arrange to collect funds for victims or supplies for the rescue workers

Initiate a collection at your office for Red Cross. Announce their website in the company’s newsletter and on its PA system. Also, try to go to each co-worker’s desk to emphasize the need to donate. If possible, set a target amount of funds you would like to collect. This tends to motivate people to give enough to meet the target.

Rescue workers are short on many supplies. If you are in New York area please take these supplies for them:

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/DailyNews/wtc_donations010914.html

3. Initiate a blood drive at your location

If it is not already been done, send a memo to all that we should do this at the company or send a request to your boss or supervisor about it. Once you’ve got the go ahead, contact your local branch of the American Red Cross and set a date to hold the drive at your office. Keep all employees informed about it. (Keep all the notes with you. In summer blood supplies goes down in hospital. It may be a good idea that you keep doing that every few months.)

One Muslim American employee in Chicago with an obviously Muslim name sent out a suggestion to his boss and co-workers to do this. It received a very positive response although unfortunately they still could not get Red Cross to bring the truck for them.

4. Use Juma prayers to talk about the terrorist attacks and collect funds

If you have Juma prayers held at your work, get your best speaker to give a sermon about the bombing, how it is condemned in Islam and what Muslims can do for the victims. Make Dua (supplication) at the end of the Khutbah for the victims of the tragedy and their loved once. Make sure to record this sermon and the subsequent Dua and prayer.

If the Khutbah is very good, get it transcribed and published in the company newsletter. If it’s too long, then select excerpts for publication.

5. Organize a session at work to talk about it

Many people are keeping their emotions bottled up or quietly discussing it amongst friends at work. Talk to your boss about having a session for all employees with a counselor or therapist to discuss the tragedy and process their feelings about it. If possible, arrange to pay for this yourself so that all employees can benefit from the session.

6. Talk to your coworkers about how they are feeling

On an individual level, discuss with co-workers, one-on-one, how they and you are feeling in the aftermath of the attacks. By opening up to you, your co-workers will not only appreciate the opportunity to discuss something they have felt so shocked and saddened about, but they will also be able to connect to you. By connecting to you, you become a friend, not "the other".

7. Encourage people don't generalize

It is expected that some individuals may generalize and try to blame all Muslims or all Arabs for the crime. If you find this attitude in a co-worker, calmly explain that just as there was a tiny group celebrating the horrific attack, similarly, there is a tiny minority of Americans who have harassed Muslims or attacked their institutions in the last few days. They in no way represent all Americans, any more than the celebrating Palestinians represent all Palestinians, Pakistanis, Arabs or Muslims.

Date/Time Last Modified: 6/3/2004 8:04:49 AM

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