A Pictorial Portrait of Muslims in the US at Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai Report in Middday, Mumbai A first ever exhibit called

Islam in America being held at the Haji Ali Dargah i n the city, is a pictorial portrait of Muslims in the US in public and ordinary life It was a wind-swept Tuesday morning, a day when the sky threatened rain but fort unately for numerous visitors walking towards the Haji Ali Dargah, the great blu e yonder did not make good its threat. Amongst those visitors on the road cutting into the sea was a posse of policemen and security detail that evoked great curiosity. Consul General of the US in Mumbai, Peter Haas at the Haji Ali Site Yesterday They were there, courtesy The Consul General (CG) of the US in Mumbai, Peter Haa s, accompanied by personnel from the American center in Mumbai and Haji Ali Darg ah trustee, U S Vanjara, camera crew and television and print journalists who wa lked in to inaugurate an exhibit called, Islam in America being held at the Darg ah. The American Center Mumbai, in collaboration with the Sayed Pir Haji Ali Shah Bu khair Dargah Trust have hosted a poster and video exhibit, which they say, showc ases the various aspects of Islam and Muslims in America and celebrates cultural diversity in America. The exhibition, a first ever for the Haji Ali Dargah comprises a posters and a v ideo film, which shows Muslims in America, with thumbnail sketches about their b ackground and how they have integrated into society. The exhibition is open to t he public and will be on till September 18. Famous Muslim Americans like Muhammad Ali, former heavyweight world champion box er (Ali was formerly Cassius Clay who converted to Islam and became Muhammad Ali . Reports state that in 1964 he embraced the Nation of Islam) and basketball sup erstar Kareem Abdul Jabbar are featured on posters. There is also a picture of K eith Ellison. Ellison is the first Muslim to be elected to the United States Con gress. Poster Boys Besides famous personalities, the exhibit has posters of ordinary Americans in d ifferent facets of life with several of Muslim women shown wearing the hijab (he adscarf). Incidentally, the Islamic head covering (hijab) and face covering (niq ab) have become a lightning rod for controversy off late, especially in Europe. A poster of one of the world s most famous boxers, Muhammad Ali at the exhibit As Mumbais Muslims and visitors of other faiths looked on, Haas cut the ribbon o f the exhibition hall to a flurry of flashbulbs and then took time to scrutinise and comment on certain posters. Haas who has just taken over as drawn to this place on my very ar. At that time, I had come to its beauty. What also struck me l faiths who come here." CG of the US in Mumbai on August 1, said, "I was first visit to Mumbai which was in March this ye the Dargah as a visitor and I was mesmerised by was that it is not just Muslims but people of al

What struck this reporter though was that the timing of this exhibition, Islam i

n America, is telling. This Sunday on September 11, the US marks 10 years of the 9/11 terror attacks. The media and American networks in particular, have been m arking the run-up to the day with reporting on all aspects of 9/11, survivor sto ries, heroic accounts and conflicts within the US-Muslim community. Haas though denied any link between the timing of this exhibition and the tenth anniversary of the attacks that changed USA, the world and how we live in so man y tangible and intangible ways. "There is absolutely no connection," he said, in response to a journalists query about the timing of the exhibition. The same line was taken by U S Vanjara, who also said, "the exhibition has nothi ng to do with the 10 years to 9/11" when asked by this reporter. Anne Grimes, Pu blic Relations Officer of the American Center was even more circumspect when ask ed what was the current climate in the USA, "I have not been to the US for nearl y a year," she said, brushing off the question. Anne Grimes, Public Relations Officer of the American Center at the Dargah What Haas repeatedly stressed was that this was an effort to, "celebrate diversi ty in the US and in India too, both countries which offer parallels in the diffe rent ways in which people worship. It also shows how well integrated Muslims are in America, they are members of Congress, athletes and Nobel Laureates." Haas also added that he looks at this diversity and integration as a kind of wea ving into society, the warp and weft, with the warp (up and down) weaving symbol ic of the integration of governments while the weft (with its sideways left to r ight) weaving symbolic of the colour, texture and strength of the ties of divers e people." Unanswered Questions While Haas made his point about integration, tougher questions were not answered in a shroud of diplomacy. The still very mixed feelings of Muslims towards the US, and the US towards Islam, the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and its relationship with Pakistan of so much interest to India, there were no answers about that. There was a feeling was given that this was not really the time or place to ask uncomfortable questions. After Haas left, it was the Haji Ali dargah trustees wh o had to answer queries. Vanjara too trod with caution when asked questions abou t the broader US-Islam relationship. He refused to answer a question on the dron e attacks terming it as, "too sensitive." He did say though, "The exhibition would, we hope, shatter stereotypes and show that Muslims are not badly treated in the US. My family lives in the US and I tr avel there very often so I can say that with certainty. Of course, there has bee n some inquiry post 9/11 but that has to be done in the light of security reason s." Pictures Speak Louder than Words at this Exhibit When asked about why, if Muslims do not like the West, they continue to immigrat e and live there, Vanjara said, "Who said they do not like the West?" Vanjara al so pointed out that, "In the photos at the exhibition you saw women wearing the hijab, (headscarf) while in certain countries it is banned." The burqa and especially the full-face covering is banned in public places in Fr ance and in certain parts of Belgium and some other European countries because o f security reasons. France had even said that forcing a woman to wear a burqa go es against he countrys culture of freedom and equality.

While the CG and his entourage seemed understandably wary to dive into stormy wa ters, the rumbling waves that crashed into the walls of the Dargah and the road leading to it, mirrored some of the tumult in the US-Islamic world. Exhibition: Islam in America, exhibit at the Haji Ali Dargah hall is open to the public from 10 am to 7 pm every day till September 18. Discrimination or Tradition? Efforts to prove that women are equal to men in Islam and there is no discrimina tion, suffered a backseat when a woman photographer was denied permission to ent er a minaret and take pictures of Peter Haas at the event. Photographer U Kadam of the Times of India (TOI) was not allowed to enter a minaret, which was within the masjids premises to take pictures of Haas at the minaret. The Times of Indias correspondent, M Wajihuddin also argued vociferously with th e Dargahs personnel who stood steadfast in their denial to allow Kadam to enter the minaret. Wajihuddin argued with Vanjara who said that, "we do not allow women inside the premises simply because we do not know which woman is clean or unclean." He also denied that this was discrimination. "It is not discrimination, it is tradition." Another man supporting Vanjara said , "This is Sharia law." An angry Wajihuddin though remained unconvinced. URL: http://newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamIslamicCulture_1.aspx?ArticleID=5448