LAHORE, Aug 11: Suicide bombing and jihad are the most abused words associated with Islam in the US and the West, says a Pakistani-American working to protect and preserve civil liberties and constitutional rights for all.

“An American schoolchild might not have any knowledge about Islam but he knows that Muslims are suicide bombers and kill innocent people in the name of jihad,” American Muslim Voice executive director Samina Faheem Sundas told newsmen at the Lahore Press Club on Thursday.

“An average American has doubts about the loyalty of every Muslim with the US,” the recipient of prestigious Human Relations Award for outstanding contributions to the community from the Santa Clara County said.

“A catholic was responsible for the Oklahoma blasts but he was not labelled as a catholic bomber because Americans argue that only Muslims commit such acts in the name of their religion.

“The Madressah in Pakistan are the seats of learning but they should only impart religious education to their students. The teachers should deliver lectures in their personal capacity and not as teachers of the seminaries,” Ms Sundas said.

Muslims were suffering more than any other community in the US and the West after 9/11 and London bombings because they did not bother to depict the true Islamic way which is non-violent, she said.

“Besides, the need of the hour is to launch a vigorous campaign to create awareness among the Muslims in the US. They need to know that they have the right to say no and the right to an attorney; they have the right to say no to the search unless the law-enforcers have a search warrant and they will have to get a subpoena to question anyone.

“It is American to say no to the police or the FBI when they come to talk to any citizen. American-Muslims should not speak to the police without an attorney’s presence because words are what kill one in the court of law.

“Most of our fellow Americans are open-minded, kind and compassionate people and if we share our stories and the plight of the Muslims after 9/11 with them, there will be more of them supporting us. We need to establish relationship, make alliances and build safer and harmonious communities together. The need of the hour is to give them first-hand knowledge about Islam which can only be possible by developing personal relationship with them. “Under the present circumstances, it is the duty of every American-Muslim to highlight, whenever possible, the true Islam,” she said.

When contacted, Japanese- and African-Americans urged the Muslims to get united and raise voice against the injustices and do not give any information to the FBI as it would be used against the community sooner or later.

Jews and Indians have joined hands against Muslims and they were targeting the people of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

“Many Americans are of the view that Muslims have been implicated in the 9/11,” she said and added that the American Muslim Voice was working on the theme each one teach one, urging Pakistanis in particular and other Muslims in general to tell Americans about Islam.