Muslims show solidarity with gesture

Members of the Muslim and non-Muslim communities are observing the one-week anniversary of Tuesday's terrorist attack by doing what they say defies the perpetrators behind the bombings -- working together and building unity.\nToday, some Muslims and non-Muslims will wear the hijab or kufi, along with a representation of the American flag. They are encouraging others to do the same. \nThe aim of the gesture is to show solidarity with people who have been targeted in the community simply on the basis of their appearance, said Rohany Nayan, a student, who helped organize the event.\nA hijab is a scarf-like head covering for women. Organizers say it can be a bandanna or a full headdress. The kufi is a small, circular hat for men. Hair does not need to be covered in entirety.\nWomen and men of all faiths are encouraged to participate in the gesture to show solidarity with Muslims who have been the target of hostilities following Tuesday's bombings. In the past week, Muslims, international students and people who might look like they are from the Middle East have been the target of hostilities and violence as the number of dead rises.\nAcross the country, Muslim Web sites have been shut down because of the enormous amount of hate mail they've received. On the IU campus, one student reported being harassed after she greeted a friend in Arabic. \nThe Bloomington Police Department said they haven't received any reports of harassment, while the IUPD has recorded several instances.\n"This is a time when we really need to come together and fight anybody who tries to break us," said Sohaib Sultan, a senior, who plans to wear the kufi.\nOrganizers, who went to the Islamic Center of Bloomington Friday to express their support, say they were inspired by World War II Denmark where, when Nazis ordered all Jews to wear yellow Stars of David, non-Jewish Danes donned the stars as well so the Jews could not be singled out. \nIt's instances like that, said junior Naimah Bilal, the president of the Muslim Student Union, that overwhelm the Muslim community. Bilal said at first she was concerned for the challenges non-Muslims wearing the hijab would face, but said they were willing to take it on. \nToday's initiative is one of several that have come in the wake of the bombing to support Muslims. Hundreds of people have come forward to express their concern for the Muslim population by volunteering to drive students home late night, writing letters in support and serving as escorts walking women back and forth to class.\nAt its callout meeting Monday night, the Muslim Student Union again announced its plans. Many of the attendees already wore hijabs, but some of those that didn't, like senior Abeer Tebawi, said she would to show her support. Tebawi, a Forest Quad resident assistant, conceded a mixed reaction to wearing a hijab, part excitement for others who are participating and part curiosity to see non-Muslim's reaction. \nFor the most part, anti-Muslim sentiment has cooled down, but Sultan said the group is aware of a small minority that wants "to do crazy things." \nIn the ensuing days since the bombing, many Muslims have stayed home and taken extra precautionary steps. While they are fearful, they are also using the opportunity to educate people about Islam and show that Muslims are mourning the victims as well, Sultan said.\n"In a society, sometimes the greatest enemy is ignorance"