Virginia Muslims express dismay, sorrow at Fort Hood attack

Virginia Muslims reacted with dismay and sorrow yesterday to the shooting rampage at an Army base by a Muslim psychiatrist.

"There is no political ideology or religious basis to justify such killings," said Dr. Nazir Chaudhary, president of the Islamic Center of Virginia. "As American Muslims, we stand with our fellow citizens in solidarity and offer our sympathy and prayers to the families that were affected by this tragedy."

The alleged shootings by Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, an Arlington County native and Virginia Tech graduate, unsettled some in the Muslim community who fear retaliation similar to what occurred after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks by 19 Middle Eastern men.

The Coalition on American-Islamic Relations in Washington warned Muslims to "take appropriate precautions to protect themselves, their families and their religious institutions from possible backlash."

Mosque leader Atiyyah Mohammed of the Petersburg Islamic Center, which serves some Fort Lee soldiers, said the incident created some concern about backlash toward the Muslim community and soldiers of that faith.

"This had nothing to do with religion. We should remain intelligent and not tie this to the Muslim community," he said. "What he did is forbidden. Our religion doesn't teach these horrible acts of violence."

"I am really regretful because I feel that people will be extra aware of Muslims. These kinds of incidents give people an opportunity to point at us."

-- Michael Martz and Luz Lazo