Story by Kristin Gray, Special to the NNPA from the Afro American Newspapers

Muslim in U.S. military face challenges, Fort Hood

massacre draws increased scrutiny of Islam

(NNPA) - With the War on Terror well into its

sixth year, America’s campaign against terrorism
and weapons of mass destruction has, for some,
also become an attack on Islam.

For many American-born Muslims and followers

of Islam serving in the U.S. armed forces, the
experience has been doubly burdensome and may
have played a role in Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan’s
November 5 mass shooting at Fort Hood in Texas.

Of the 1.4 million U.S. servicemen and women,

approximately 3,572 are Muslims, according to
the Department of Defense’s most recent figures.
However, this number may be larger, as the
military does not require enlisted persons to
disclose their religious affiliation.

Among the small community of Muslims serving

in the United States military, there are several
chaplains who teach and follow Islam. But as
more Americans become skeptical of Islam’s
claim to be “the religion of peace,” Muslim
military chaplains face a unique conflict –
defending their faith without drawing the ire of
others who question their loyalty to the American
cause.

According to the Council of American-Islamic

Relations, there were at least 6 million Muslims
living in America in 2001. After the September 11
terrorist attacks, prejudice and discrimination
against Muslims and Islam reached record
numbers and led to widespread social backlash
against alleged Islamic extremists.
Artwork: mangagirl3535.deviantart.com
Being a follower of Islam and an American soldier
is a dual, but not necessarily irreconcilable,
identity. Similar to African American scholar
W.E.B Du Bois’ concept of double consciousness
–the idea that Black Americans must live with a
Public Radio that practicing Islam and being a Shabazz said Hasan and several of the other 48
sense of being “an American, a Negro…two
soldier is at times difficult. Muslim soldiers on base at Fort Hood had
warring ideals in one dark body”—Muslim
“All [of a] sudden, it was almost like I switched complained “about being taunted and harassed,”
military chaplains must adhere to the tenets of the
sides to them,” Shabazz, who is African- but he said the respected, high-ranking
religion while serving in wars that kill other
American, said of his decision to convert to Islam psychiatrist did not appear “depressed at all.”
Islamic followers.
while on active duty. “[My fellow soldiers] were
hurt because I converted. They thought maybe I
Maj. Khalid Shabazz, the former Muslim chaplain
was joining on to the enemy.”
for the 1-227 Aviation Attack Battalion at Fort
Hood and an associate of Hasan, told National

McFarlane Ford Reader November 16, 2009