According to UT’s Center for International Education, visa applicants from almost all Muslim countries must go through a longer security process than other foreign applicants, including a waiting period of up to 25 days.
The president of the Muslim Student Association, Sanjana Ahmad, said she “wholly supports” the U.S. need for security, but believes the additional security checks should apply to all foreign nationals.
“The issue of terrorism is not restricted to Muslim countries, but presents itself throughout the world,” Ahmad said.
When asked if there is something she would like to say to students who agree with the policy, Ahmad said, “First of all, everyone has the right to their own opinion, but in forming these opinions, students should carefully consider whether such a policy will really prevent terrorism or be seen as a bias against Muslims and create more animosity between the U.S. and Muslim countries.”
Ahmad, a U.S. citizen born in Bangladesh, said in response to the claim from some Southern Baptist ministers that Islam is a religion of hatred, “I feel it’s unfortunate that some Christian leaders have made and endorsed such derogatory and hateful language.”
She warned about unfair prejudices against the Muslim religion.
“These types of remarks are dangerous and fuel biases and hate against Muslims who share a religious tradition with both Jews and Christians,” she said. “I hope that we can rise above this and unite through our commonalties, instead of being driven apart by hatred and distrust.”
Another topic covered in the interview with Ahmad was the Muslim community’s perception of the United States. She said the initiatives taken by President Bush immediately following the Sept. 11 attacks were “very helpful and positive.”
“(President Bush’s) visit to the mosque in Washington, D.C. and invitations of many Muslim leaders to the White House really increased the general public’s awareness and acceptance of Muslims in this country,” Ahmad said. “However, since then, many actions taken by different government agencies, such as the targeting of young men from Muslim countries (and) FBI raids on reputable Muslims organizations and charities, have eroded the goodwill created by the president.”
When asked how the United States could change the way they are perceived, Ahmad gave the following answer.
“Muslims in the U.S. believe strongly, as all other Americans, in this nation’s values of liberty, democracy, and justice,” she said. “A concern among all Muslims, both in America and overseas, is policies and actions (or lack of actions) taken by America in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. America needs to take a balanced approach on the issue, and not just side with the Israelis.”
Ahmad also commented on Muslims still being detained without charges in U.S. custody.
“Long term detention of a person, without having charges being brought against them, I believe, goes against the principles of our justice system: ‘Innocent until proven guilty’ and the right to a fair and speedy trial for all those accused of a crime,” she said. “If these people have truly committed a crime, they should be charged and brought to justice as soon as possible.”
The Muslim Student Association, which has nearly one hundred members, has participants from many different faiths and backgrounds.
Ahmad said the mission of the MSA “is to promote a unifying and positive environment on campus, among all students, by demonstrating the Islamic ideals of justice, knowledge, and compassion and thereby representing the true beauty of Islam.”
