When British businessman Imran Ahmad was made redundant in January, instead of hitting the Job Centre he decided to arrange a one-man speaking tour of the United States to spread his message of peace and Muslim moderateness.
"Do you think the American drone raids in Afghanistan, in which women and children are killed, are actually obstructing the movement for an Islamic reformation?"
"What can be done about the alienation of young Muslim men in the UK?"
"Did you learn English in England?"
I've had an interesting range of questions at my speaking events in the US, but thankfully there have been some laughs with the audience too.
But first things first: what am I doing with a rented hybrid car on a 12,000-mile, 40-city speaking tour of America?
I'd always been grateful that Britain, the land of my upbringing, had remained remarkably tolerant of Muslims despite the shock of the 7 July bombings and continuing provocation from some extremist elements. I think there's still a good general understanding in the UK that the actions of a few do not represent all Muslims.
But I wasn't sure the same could be said for the United States - a country where I'd lived for five years and for which I'd always had great affection.
There had been a dreadful incident on New Year's Day this year in which nine Muslims - all US citizens, including three young children - had been removed from a domestic flight because two of them had been overheard discussing where was the safest place to sit on an aeroplane.
The FBI had been called in, the "suspects" questioned and the airline had initially refused to rebook them even after they were released without charge.
My own experience of the US had been formed in the years immediately before 9/11, when I'd lived there. Religion and ethnicity had never been an issue. Contrast this with the years since the 2001 attacks, when, on each visit, I'd been detained for "secondary" questioning at immigration control… sometimes for hours.
I don't blame them for this, given the circumstances. But it still had made me sad.
Source: BBC
H/T: GH
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