Sociology professor Jasmin Zine says Muslim youths are often misunderstood
An Ontario academic says that Muslim young people in Canada are experiencing negative effects of the so-called war on terror in some unusual ways.
On September 10, Jasmin Zine, an associate professor of sociology at Wilfrid Laurier University, said during a panel discussion at W2 Media Café that she has interviewed more than 100 Muslim youths over the years and that many believe they’re under surveillance or being watched.
“Because they were often quite young, they said, ‘9/11 didn’t affect me,’ ” Zine said via Skype during the forum called What Has Changed Since September 11, 2001?
However, when she probed deeper, she heard troubling stories. Some Muslim kids reported that they sometimes walk quickly in the mall in order to get away when they have the sense that they’re being followed by an agent with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. Others worry about playing video games in public for fear they’ll be viewed as violent. She even heard from members of a Muslim student association that debated for a month about whether or not to play paintball because of concerns over being seen as a terrorist training group.
“These are the very real ways in which the politics of empire weigh against youth,” Zine said.
She described the so-called Toronto 18 case, in which Muslim youths were arrested en masse, as a “flash point” for creating overblown fears about homegrown terrorism in the general public.
“A lot of youth are [construed] as a potential radical threat to the nation,” Zine stated. “In fact, when you really look at what youth are involved in, they’re incredibly engaged actors.”
She noted that art is the preferred tool of resistance to discrimination, citing Muslim youths who have become comedians, spoken-word performers, and musicians in order to express their political views. She emphasized that none of the kids she’s interviewed has expressed any interest in committing violence against society.
Comments
6 Comments
anonymouse1962
Sep 12, 2012 at 6:52pm
Ugh. What a silly article. The fact that she is a professor of Sociology tells me all I need to know. What a joke of a social science. And before I get downdinged, I have a Master's in Sociology, so I know. It's all b*****t.
dave19
Sep 12, 2012 at 9:40pm
This is based on a false narrative that Muslim terrorists were responsible for the attacks of 9/11. Find out what the experts are saying, stop listing to the government controlled media's lies and racist criminal behavior. It's time to watch and intimidate those who watch us, say hello and take there picture, ask them to identify themselfs and show I.D. or move to a free country.
Noknok
Sep 13, 2012 at 6:50pm
To dave19,
I can tell you've been listening to the "Coast to coast" type of nonsense (meaningless phrases like "...false narrative..." give you away). Who are these experts you mention, are they people who say what you think ? And, Islam is not a race, it's a religion and as far as I'm concerned the criticism of a religion is the moral obligation of all thinking persons.
dave19
Sep 14, 2012 at 11:07am
Noknok I admitt I do listen to a lot of nonsense and just made up the thing about experts. It was stupid of me to write that Islam is a religion and that we should not criticize religion. I am obviously not a thinking person such as yourself. Can you recommend some better information sources for me. Thanks
prenup
Sep 14, 2012 at 4:02pm
Anyone else wonder why Muslim leaders around the world arnt standing up and condemning the violence muslins are causing because of a 15 minute video someone made? Was it just that an innocent american diplomat had his lie taken away? Is there a SINGLE prominent muslim leader speaking out against the use of violence? The answer is no.
Dave White
Sep 14, 2012 at 4:22pm
Perspctive! I am white, was in born and raised in Canada. I have
had lots of questions by the Amerians and the Canadians.
When I have gone for a walk, I am often stopped by the police -
as recent as twice in the last month. I sometimes leave my home
and walk to get 15 minutes of fresh air and back to reading or
listening to music. This has happened since I was 19 and am well over
50. The funny part is that when I am asked what I do for a living and
I disclose my employment, the police and customs officers run to the hills, figuratively speaking, and have said "we are not profiling",
meaning they didn't pick on the way I looked!
So Muslims in Canada have to understand that like myself, you are person of interest, and if the police or the authorities take an interest in you, you have to be polite, patient, always have a good reason like specific to your purpose and don't say I am doing nothing or I am going for a walk. You have to be specific. People in authority like direct answers. When I went to the states from 1970s to 1990s - I would always say I am going to the X university to buy computer books. Customs/Immigration would always say for work or pleasure and I would answer for pleasure. It was always true what I said, but more
importantly is was specific. I once answered I am going shopping and the officer said why don't you shop in Canada. I learned right there and then - Never give that answer ever again. That was said 20 years ago. See what I mean. You have to have a specific answer. You have to have an explanation immediately stated as to purpose.
And in the back of your mind always remember there are only two -- and only two possibilities, one, you are of no interest because you are a good person and or you are a bad person and a person of interest. If they pick you, like they pick on me, they have lost an opportunity to get the bad guy because he was just behind you
and slipped by, not picked! It is impossible to check everybody, so always enjoy the experience, learn from the experience.