Muslim Professor talks about Libya Attacks - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Muslim Professor talks about Libya Attacks

By: Jillian Wilson

jwilson@cbs4qc.com

Quad Citians are speaking out about the US attack in Libya.

Just a day after mourning the tragedy of 9–11, Quad City Muslims are now mourning the loss of a U.S. leader. But they're also having to patch up a skewed vision of their Islamic faith.

"Muslim Americans are American, so when an American ambassador is killed, they're grieving just as much as everyone else in the country is grieving, but also they have to deal with the stereotypes, the racism, the prejudices and a factor like this is only contributing to that," said Cyrus Zargar, a professor at Augustana College.

Professor Cyrus Zargar is also the advisor to the Muslim Student Association at Augustana. He says although the QC is not the most diverse area, the fact that the Muslim community here is so tightly knit, helps make up for the lack of ethnicities.

Professor Zargar says other cities in the U.S. could actually learn from the Quad Cities.

"I've seen more interfaith activity between the mosques, and the synagogues and churches here in the quad cities then i saw in the Bay area, or Los Angeles," said Zargar.