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SAN in the NEWS On Sunday January 13th, South Asian Network (SAN) held a town hall to have a community dialogue on issues that are impacting the South Asian community in the US. Held in Lawndale, CA, with 80 community members from the local area in attendance, the town hall was conducted primarily in Hindi and Urdu (with simultaneous English language translation) and facilitated by SAN staff members and volunteer, Farhana Shahid, Hamid Khan, Shiuming Cheer, Vandana Ranjan, and Ankita Kant. In addition, Community and staff members took part in various skits to highlight examples of racism, xenophobia, and domestic violence faced by the South Asian community. The town hall explored the intersections of race, immigration status and gender particularly in the post 9/11 era of racial profiling, surveillance, detention, deportation and violence faced by the Muslims, Arabs and South Asians. Farhana Shahid, a SAN staff and member of the South Bay community opened the town hall by illustrating the need for such a dialogue to begin in the South Asian community as increasingly individuals in the South Asian community have faced discrimination at the workplace, harassment while shopping and racism within the school districts. Hamid Khan, Executive Director of South Asian Network, followed by providing the historical context of racist immigration policies that have impacted South Asian for decades and linked this to the internment of the Japanese after World War II as well as the continued oppression of the Indigenous communities (Native American) and African Americans in the US. Ankita Kant, a community member who has become increasingly active on the issue of violence against women in the past year, continued by presenting that 2 out of 5 South Asian women are impacted by domestic violence. Ankita also provided information on appropriate prevention and intervention strategies such as mental health counseling and resources such as shelters, transportation vouchers, and job related information that are available to women who are abused by their husbands and/or in-laws. In addition, she discussed the lack of support in the community as well as the racist and discriminatory responses of law enforcement officers faced by survivors of domestic violence. Also, Kiran Nair, an attorney who practices immigration and family law, presented information on various immigration reliefs available to immigrant women such as Violence Against Women Act and the U Visa. Furthermore, Moulana Zunaid from the local mosque responded to the queries of various attendants on the role of religion in addressing violence in intimate relationships. He indicated that the root of this violence lies in the inappropriate socialization of men when they are young. The higher status provided to boys while the girls are not afforded the same allows for the unequal power dynamics in intimate relationships. "It is about responsibility, not power," he stated. He elaborated that according to Islam men have the responsibility to provide for their family but they also have the responsibility to recognize that their wives are equal to them and therefore deserve their respect. A critical part of the town hall included a discussion on the role of community members, particularly male community members, in addressing violence against women in the community as well ways to advocate for change in immigration policy. During the town hall, participants shared their experiences with family violence and suggested methods of confronting violence and raising awareness. The community members felt that having such town halls was imperative in organizing against violence in the community. They also stated that it would be important to educate their children on the issue, educating themselves, fighting gender stereotypes, beginning a dialogue with their family, and supporting victims of violence in their own community.
Domestic Violence Survivor Takes Charge! Rubaiyat Karim Link: http://indiapost.com/article/immigration/1830/
Spouse abandonment reaches epidemic proportions India Post News Service LOS ANGELES CA: "He told me that he would send for me after a few months but the only papers that arrived were the ones seeking a divorce," states Maya. Maya's family arranged her marriage with an émigré from Los Angeles, California and soon afterwards she arrived in the US where she resided with her husband as a H4 visa holder. She was physically and mentally abused by her husband and often harassed for more dowries. Soon after, they had a daughter and she went on a holiday to India to see her parents. However, while she was there her husband filed for divorce and served her with the petition for dissolution of the marriage and warned her against returning to the US, stating that since she is on a dependant visa she would be arrested upon arrival. Abandonment has reached epidemic levels as 30,000 marriages to émigrés have resulted in a spouse being abandoned in India, with 15,000 of those in Punjab, and increasingly from Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, according to the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA). Abandonment of spouses in their country of origin, much like threatening deportation, withholding immigration documents, and refusing to proceed with immigration applications immediately after marriage, are all patterns of abuse based on immigration status. South Asian women's organizations in the United States, such as Manavi, are leading the efforts to document the incidences of abandonment of women from India, as well as Bangladesh and Pakistan, although currently there are no available statistics for the latter two countries. Ali Kazimi's documentary, Runaway Grooms (released in 2005), shows two women, Namita Jain and Sonia Kaur, in India who have been impacted by a combination of social customs, foreign law and greed and are speaking out about the issue through the media and the judicial system. As shown in the documentary and attested to by domestic violence advocates, women are abandoned (also referred to as "marry-and-dump") after they marry an émigré, who returns with the promise of applying for his spouse to immigrate to the US. However, the bride is left waiting, often pregnant and with no communication from the husband. If the émigré happens to bring the spouse to the US, the couple often returns to the country of origin under the pretext of going on a "vacation" to visit their families and the spouse is abandoned, leaving her without her immigration and identification documents so as to disallow her from returning to the US. When the émigré returns to the US, he petitions for the dissolution of the marriage and given the lack of access to information, immigration documents and financial resources the abandoned spouse is unable to retain an attorney to represent her interest in court thereby allowing the émigré to get a default judgment. Given that the abandoned spouse does not respond to the divorce filing as they are often falsely informed by her émigré that they do not need to file a response, the judge presiding over the case does not order alimony, child support or equitable distribution of assets. In these instances, the women are debased and at times, the family has been forced to relocate due to the shame that has been brought on to the family due to the divorce. South Asian Network (SAN) finds that the victims of this are mostly women with educated and upper class women being impacted as much as women from rural areas. SAN advocates find that often the émigrés want to extort dowry, and if the wife's family is unable to provide it, they are abandoned. Also, often émigrés cite that they were under parental pressure to marry someone from their country of origin hence abandonment of the spouse is an easy way to address the matter. However, whether for greed or due to pressure, much like other forms of abuse, the immigration status of the émigré leaves the abandoned spouse at their mercy. Such dependency plays a critical role in increasing the vulnerability of women who are on H4 dependant visas as they are unable to work and have limited access legal and health resources. In most of these cases, the children are taken away from the abandoned woman and if the woman is pregnant when she is abandoned the émigré does not provide for the child. Recently, Sandhya Shukla, Director of Social Services at the (MOIA), met with SAN and other South Asian women's organizations in the United States to develop transnational alliances to address this issue. She traveled with the intention of gathering recommendations from advocates as to the measures that MOIA can take to address the concerns of women who have been abandoned by their émigré spouses. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs began an initiative this year to provide legal, financial and mental health resources to women who have been abandoned. The Ministry has also published a pamphlet, titled "Marriages to Overseas Indians", to increase the level of awareness, suggest preventive measures as well as interventions for women in India, whose soon-to-be husbands reside aboard. According to Shukla, "many cases involve women who are unaware of the available resources." This is cited by Shukla and other advocates as one reason for the under reporting hence they feel it is imperative that women are provided the necessary information so that they may report these issues to the government. Firoza Chic Dabby, the Executive Director at Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence, also encourages parents to be vigilant as often families aspire to send their children to live abroad without realizing the potential risks as these marriages occur without a thorough background check of the émigré. Currently in the US, efforts are underway to address abandonment and support women through financial, legal, and mental health resources. SAN finds that the federal immigration laws such as Violence Against Women Act and Immigration Marriage Fraud Act govern marriages involving immigrants much more so than state laws allow hence abandoned women can often seek immigration relief under these acts. If abused, derivative spouses who were married to a US citizen or legal permanent resident can seek to adjust their immigration status by self-petitioning. If their spouse is a temporary foreign worker admitted under the A, E, G, or H non-immigrant visa programs, the abandoned spouse may be approved to work if there is evidence of violence or extreme cruelty. Also, based on the recommendation of the National Commission of Women, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has stated that they will establish "cells" in the India embassies and high commissions to collaborate with domestic violence organizations, which in turn will disburse financial assistance in the amount of $1,000 to Indian women deserted in India or overseas within two years of marriage and divorce proceedings initiated by the émigré husband within two years of the marriage. They also plan to provide legal assistance to abandoned spouse where the émigré is granted an ex-parte decree of divorce. In addition to this, advocates believe that various other actions such as the enforcement of mandatory registration of marriages, listing of marital status on passport, bilateral treaties with foreign countries so as to seek legal action against émigrés, etc. need to be taken to hold the émigrés accountable. Also, families and individuals need to be alert as to the background of the émigré and retain copies of immigration documents so as to avoid such situations. SAN is also attempting to change the perceptions of police officers and family law judges through cultural sensitivity trainings so that they prioritize the rights of the victims regardless of their immigration status since advocates have found that often the victim is not given the same amount of credibility as her émigré spouse. Often when victims from South Asia need legal resources they are forced to retain private attorneys, who generally charge at least $4,000 in fees. Domestic violence advocates continue to identify and create a network of pro bono attorneys, referrals for educational, financial and mental health resources, create materials to raise awareness and empower victims in the South Asian community as well as connect with other immigrant communities that may be faced with similar concerns. Another victim of abandonment whose husband surprised her with a trip to Dhaka, Bangladesh contacted SAN when she realized that her husband had fled the country a few days after they landed along with her immigration documents. She was able to return to the US by obtaining travel documents through the US Embassy as she had sufficient proof of her marriage to the émigré and immigration status. Upon her arrival in the US, she was able to stay with supportive friends and later in a shelter where she accessed counseling services, job placement, and legal resources to file for divorce. While the emotional impact of such an event can only be addressed over a course of time, the creation of a strong formal legal and community framework is the only way in which the immediate financial and legal issues faced by women who are abandoned in South Asian can be addressed. Rubaiyat Karim Link: http://indiapost.com/article/immigration/1530/
Support sought for TPS status for Bangladeshis India Post News Service LOS ANGELES: SAN seeks the support of the Bangladeshi community to advocate for Temporary Protected Status for Bangladeshi immigrants residing in the United States. Temporary Protected Status (TPS), established as part of Immigration Act of 1990, is a temporary immigration status granted to eligible nationals of designated countries. This procedure allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide TPS to aliens in the United States who are temporarily unable to safely return to their home country because of ongoing armed conflict, the temporary effects of an environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) administers the TPS program and allows beneficiaries to remain in the United States and obtain work authorization. Similarly, DED is a temporary protection from removal which is granted to aliens from a designated country. DED is designated by the Office of the President of the United States of America, as a constitutional power to conduct foreign relations. The Secretary of Homeland Security can designate a country for TPS and the President is the one to designate DED for nationals of a particular country by Executive Order or Presidential Memorandum. Many immigrants from Bangladesh currently in the United States have witnessed the devastating impact of the Category 4 cyclone Sidr, which crashed into the southern coast of Bangladesh on the evening of November 14, with 155mph winds causing a 20 feet tidal wave. The last official death toll from Cyclone Sidr was 3,167 with 1,724 reported missing (Disaster Management Ministry estimates as of November 24) and many areas of Bangladesh are yet to be reached by aid workers, causing officials to estimate up to 5,000-10,000 deaths in the region. In addition, the government is unable to attend to the thousands of people who are in need of food and other resources. This cyclone is following an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale, which occurred on November 7. The earthquake jolted the southern and southeastern region of Bangladesh, with the epicenter located 253 km southeast of capital Dhaka city, causing damage to homes and office buildings in Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Khagrachhari, Comilla and Noakhali districts. In addition, Bangladesh has experienced continued floods in its northeast region caused by the heavy monsoon rains which has displaced more than 8 million people since June. Given the current state of Bangladesh following the various environmental disasters, SAN has requested that the Department of Homeland Security grants Temporary Protected Status to immigrants who would otherwise have to return to a devastated country. Rubaiyat Karim Link: http://indiapost.com/article/immigration/1528/ SAN Gets $25K Grant for DV
Program for Children Under the auspices of its Speak
Out Against Domestic Violence Initiative, the Avon Foundation last month
awarded a $25,000 one-year grant to South Asian Network for a program
that assists children who have been exposed to domestic violence. Link: http://www.indiawest.com/view.php? subaction=showfull&id=1196967058&archive=&start_from=&ucat=10&
September 11th, 2007 – The State of the South Asian Community 6 years
later: Since September 11th, 2001, the South Asian community has been a target of hate crimes, deportations, government surveillance and other acts of aggression within the mainstream, which has placed the community under a state of siege. Yet, with all these hardships, the community not only manages to survive but also comes together to empower itself, stand up for its rights and carves its role within the broader movement for social and economic justice. The following articles depict the varied experiences of the South Asian community at large: Post 9-11
Hate Crime Victim, I’m one of the post 9-11 hate crime survivors. The hate crime happened on November 11th, 2001 in my store in Los Angeles, CA. I was working, when two armed young men came in, robbed me & blamed me for 9-11. Los Angeles Police Department took a report and a video cassette recording of the incident. Los Angeles Times published my story. Following the hate crime, I contacted South Asian Network (SAN) for services and support. I lost both of my businesses because I was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. SAN assisted me in filing a wage claim with the State of California, Victim Witness Compensation Program (VWCP). Ms. Joyti Chand at SAN is working on my case and is authorized to deal with all government agencies including VWCP. Almost 6 years has passed, still my case at the VWCP hasn’t got a final decision. We submitted all kinds of documents, reports, certificates and papers for the wage claim to the local El Monte VWCP office. These documents include wage loss statements, tax statements, psychological and psychiatric reports and police documents of the crime. The State has neglected my case, lost my documents and re-victimized me. Sometimes I was told that the documents I submitted were sufficient, sometimes the same documents were incomplete and not in compliance with their guidelines. On March 6th, 2006, the local El Monte VWCP office denied working on my case. I came to the U.S. from Bangladesh in March 1990. I always believed that the U.S. is a land where justice and humanity is the most important. I want to hold on to this belief. The hate crime and my experiences of being re-victimized by the State has gloomed the image I had day by day. In order for there to be justice for all, including victims of hatred and State violence, all forms of discrimination, surveillance, employment inequality, immigration harassment and negligence of victims has to end. This should be irrespective of status, color, race, religion, age and/or sex.  Mr. Mujibar Badal
South Asian
Health post 9/11 Change in health behavior and healthcare for the South Asian community in the United States post 9/11 is often overlooked or invisible. It has and continues to effect the South Asian community both physical and mental health. Working in the Health Unit (CHAI- Community Health Action Initiative), we have seen the fear in our community to access basic health care. Our community members are afraid to use any free services such as county health programs because they feel that using such programs will change their immigration status, or lead to deportation/detention. Even pregnant females are scared to seek health care services because they are worried about the family. Many of our community members experience discrimination or are treated unfairly by staff and other clients at health clinics. Families have and still do experience a great deal of mental stress post 9/11 because they are worried about the wellbeing of their family members who are out of the home for work and school. South Asian Network’s CHAI unit (Health) promotes healthy living through education, empowerment, and access to healthcare for South Asian Families in Southern California. We are currently working with over 650 families to help bridge the gap in communication and disseminate the fear that our community feels. CHAI is empowering our community to advocate for themselves in demanding rights that they are entitled to such as language interpretation services that all health clinics and hospitals should be providing. We also work with various organizations in changing healthcare policies to fit the needs of our community. We see health as a basic human right for us and for all regardless of ethnicity, class, race, sexuality and gender.
9-11 and Women’s Rights, There is a deep crisis in the South Asian community due to the reactionary policies and procedures that have been implemented by the government in the post 9/11 era. The women in the South Asian community bear the burden of that crisis. The fragile economy, an insular community and the surveillance, racial profiling, registration, detention, and deportation from various legal and social institutions as well as locals has produced a volatile environment that is worsened by the lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate services. South Asian women bear the strain of upholding cultural traditions as prescribed by the patriarchs within families and to protect the men in the community, often leading to lack of reporting to law enforcement when they experience violence. In addition, the absence of immigration reform, many South Asian domestic violence victims are deterred from seeking public services or leaving battering spouses, for fear of jeopardizing their immigration status and/or custody of their children. In particular, immigration policies that prevent women on dependant/spousal visas from working and petitioning to change their status increase women’s vulnerability to abuse. SAN has worked with over 1,000 women and children in the South Asian community who are dealing with domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, elder abuse and patterns of abuse that follow alcohol and drug addictions, all situations exacerbated since 9/11. One community member, a survivor of domestic violence, eloquently articulated the dangers posed by one of the various policies that have been implemented nationwide. She testified before the L.A. County of Board of Supervisors that, due to a fear that she would be deported if she called law enforcement, she had suffered harassment for 11 years. She further stated that the new policy, which would allow local law enforcement to enforce immigration policy via a Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies, would further break down the delicate trust between immigrant communities and local police and provide abusers the very “weapon” they need to control their partner. The dynamics of power and control created within our families necessitates that we ask the questions that shatter the silence and create “security” through true solidarity.
UPDATE ON IMMIGRATION POLICY Compromises lead to fewer rights for our communities Currently, there is enormous pressure on immigrants to accept any immigration proposal and we are being told that something is “better than nothing”. Immigrant communities are being denied basic human rights given the increase in surveillance, raids, detentions and deportations and a strong push for anti-immigrant laws around the country. The Senate bill took advantage of the need for change by writing a bill in June 2007 that directly benefits businesses while claiming that the bill would be good for immigrants. The bill claimed to provide a path to citizenship, but upon closer inspection this path was rigged with massive traps that would have led to increased detention and deportation of immigrants. Using national security to justify dehumanization § Recent policies (including the failed Senate Bill) have continued patterns of linking immigration to national security. The term “terrorist” has been applied to South Asians, youth and others, which creates fear that US national security is at risk due to immigrants. This causes more proposals of racist immigration policies and a loss of civil liberties. § The real crisis is with the causes of migration. The US foreign policy of “free trade” allows businesses to set up shop in other countries, putting those nations into heavy debt and ultimately. crumbling their economies, causing extreme poverty. This forces people to migrate from their home countries and is the root cause for much migration to the US. § To be truly comprehensive, any immigration reform must include sustainable economic, social and political development in the U.S. and abroad. The goal must be an elimination of economic inequity, social injustice, and civil strife, because these are the root causes of migration. Our government should promote policies, such as job development and economic security that make a positive difference in the lives of U.S. immigrants, workers, and their families. Where Do We Go From Here We oppose all enforcement-based bills and we will not compromise for “something is better than nothing,” when that “something” actually worsens the current environment for immigrants and other working people in this country. We call for the following:
Housing Crisis in Los Angeles: Within the current context of intolerance, hundreds of South Asian immigrant families, the majority from Bangladesh and some from Sri Lanka and Pakistan, make their home in downtown Los Angeles’ Koreatown. Here, they find jobs, for minimum and below minimum wage, and typically contribute the major share of their meager incomes to rent some of the worst housing in Los Angeles. Infestations of rats and roaches, broken plumbing and hallways that are strewn with garbage are common. Despite such blatant health and safety violations, many landlords demand exaggerated and often illegal rents. Unfamiliar with their rights as workers and tenants, and fearful that they could be fired, evicted and/or deported, especially in the present climate of racial, ethnic and religious discrimination, many South Asians are reluctant to register complaints and demand improvements from their employers and landlords. Through our work in Koreatown and the case management of tenants in partnership with SAN has increased the control that people have over actions that affect them, and increased self-reliance. The positive outcomes from the community participation described below have had ripple effects, as tenants share their experiences with neighbors, who in turn open up with their own similar problems. In our one-on-one discussions and small-group presentations we conduct not only an intake of our audience’s immediate problem but pay close attention to their broader issues. By aiding them in taking measures to find solutions to their case at hand, we also establish a zone of comfort and trust. Our outreach and mapping has taught us that majority of Bangladeshi tenants in the Korea Town are not aware of their rights under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance and the enforcement provisions. But community members have reached out to each other to raise community awareness of their rights as well as how to assert them. SAN community organizers and youth members are committed to a collaborative, multicultural approach that promotes racial justice in Southern California to collectively challenge the policies and institutions that foster inequality and displacement. In this endeavor, SAN has organized a resident’s committee in Koreatown primarily targeting South Asian residents, discussing the issues and collaborating with local partners to create materials relevant for education, outreach and organizing.
Hate
Crimes, Discrimination, Police Brutality Post 9-11 Following the attacks of 9-11, the FBI documented in their annual collection of crime statistics that there was a 400% increase in the number of hate crimes committed against those perceived to be South Asian, Arab & Muslim. According to the LA County Commission on Human relations, there were a total of 188 anti-Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian related hate crimes. Six years after 9-11, SAN has documented and assisted over 150 community members who have experienced hate crimes/incidents, discrimination, police abuse/harassment and surveillance in their places of worship, residence, employment, and schools. Please join SAN on November 5th, 2007 (Artesia Community Center) and January 13th, 2008 (South Bay) to share your stories, strategize and empower others to speak out against discrimination, anti immigrant policies and the impact of violence on women and children. For More Information regarding SAN or this article, please contact us at: South
Asian Network South
Asian Network Receives July 25, 2003 LEAP stated that, “South Asian Network has exemplified leadership of the highest level” and recognized SAN’s advocacy in bringing challenges and issues faced by the South Asian community to the forefront and for being a vocal spokesperson for the largely underserved, unheard South Asian voices. Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc (LEAP) is a national non profit organization founded in 1982 to achieve full participation and equality for Asian Pacific Americans. In accepting the award, SAN executive Director, Hamid Khan stated that SAN accepted the award on behalf of all the activists that are working with the South Asian community to highlight and challenge the issues of Discrimination, Racial Profiling, Detention and deportation and the denial of Health Care and other critical services to this community. South
Asian Network Honored February 29, 2003 The Coalition for Humane
Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) is a non profit organization
founded in 1986 to advance civil rights of immigrants and refugees in Los
Angeles SAN Receives 2002 John Anson Ford Human Relations AwardOctober 23, 2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kripa Upadhyay: kripa@southasiannetwork.org The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission honored South Asian Network (SAN) with the John Anson Ford Human Relations Award for 2002 in a luncheon ceremony held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on October 23 2002. The John Anson Ford Award recognizes outstanding work that promotes Inter – group relations, and acknowledges a body of work in the field. The award was presented to SAN in Recognition of its work in providing multi – ethnic, multi – lingual leadership and services to the South Asian Community by advocating for Hate Crime victims, holding educational forums and partnering with other organizations to educate the larger community to improve inter group cultural sensitivity and the understanding which was greatly needed following September 11th. In accepting the award, SAN Executive Director Hamid Khan stressed upon “ the need for collective action to challenge everyday Racism that strips people of their dignity and institutional prejudice that disempowers us”, he also acknowledged the need for the South Asian Community to “take a proactive stand against marginalisation and challenge the prejudices within” South Asian Network (SAN) is a non-profit, non-partisan, secular, community based grass roots organizations that is dedicated to promoting the health, empowerment and solidarity of persons of South Asian origin living in Southern California. SAN has been addressing the critical needs of the community in the areas of Health Care access, Domestic Violence, Immigration, Workers’ Rights and Anti discrimination / Hate Crime since 1990. In response to the wave of anti South Asian hate violence that swept Southern California after September 11th , SAN formally established an Anti-Discrimination /Hate Crime unit. To date, SAN has provided direct assistance to over 30 South Asian victims of Hate crimes / Discrimination and their families, created and disseminated brochures and fact cards on victims rights and resources in five South Asian languages, conducted numerous community Town hall meetings and presentations on Hate Crime and Discrimination issues for over 2500 community members and have begun a media campaign that encourages Hate Crime reporting and directs victims to SAN for assistance. For further information on SAN and its programs visit the website: www.southasiannetwork.org or call (562) 403 0488 Groups Fight Increase in bias Against Arabs (Los Angeles Times) Hate: Organizations are seeking to document and prevent backlash incidents after attacks. The initial post-Sept. 11 violence against American Arabs and Muslims, or people mistaken for them, often took place in public spaces: on the street, at a convenience store, near a mosque. But some advocates of these groups say a quieter backlash also took place in people's homes-and they worry that it may still pose a threat. It can be a neighbor's hostility, an unwarranted eviction notice or a wild accusation. All of these have rattled the sense of community of some Southern California residents of Arab or South Asian descent. Such concern has brought an effort by some local organizations to document the problems and try to prevent them. o The Housing Rights Center, which regularly sends out "testers" to determine- whether landlords discriminate, has increased its pool of would-be renters of Middle Eastern descent since Sept. 11. o Statewide, a group of advocates recently formed a task force to study the issue of fair housing and immigrants. The Muslim Public Affairs Council said it has asked the Justice Department to review a list of guidelines that the Los Angeles Police Department sent to apartments' owners. The group worries that the list might increase bias against Muslims. o The South Asian Network has begun a campaign to encourage people to talk about problems in employment or housing matters. Advocates acknowledge that they do not know the extent of housing harassment or discrimination. In a time of increased detentions, interrogations and deportations, they said, getting people to talk is tough. "Nobody wants to appear on the radar, said Hamid Khan, executive director of the South Asian Network, based in Artesia. "We're trying to get the word out. Please call us; let us know. We need to document these things, start some advocacy and start mobilizing the community." Incidents like the shooting Thursday at Los Angeles International Airport by an Egyptian-born man makes the job of Khan's group more difficult, he said. "We're dealing with guilt by association. Any time an incident like this happens our alarm bells go off. We go on alert as to what kind of retribution is going to take place." "South Asian" is a broad term that includes Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans and Nepalese. Khan and other advocates say that South Asians are targeted by people who mistake them for Middle Easterners. Sikhs wear turbans and many older South Asians still wear ethnic clothing, so "They are easily recognizable as 'foreign,'" said Kripa Upadhyay, program coordinator for the South Asian Network group, known as SAN. Knowing whether an incident is motivated by a person's religion or ethnicity is inherently difficult. The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations has not compiled statistics for this year on hate-motivated crimes or incidents that have taken place at victims' residences. It counted 44 such cases between Sept. 11 and Dec. 2. And incidents so far this year have troubled some advocates. In January, the magazine of the Apartment Owners Assn. of Southern California, which has a circulation of 75,000, published an article titled "A Moment of Truth for Muslims." The article, which also appeared on the association's Web site, described Islam as a "religion of violence and hatred," and accused Muslims of being "responsible for most terrorism in the world today." Such articles reflect "a lot of ignorance and stereotypical images about Muslims," said Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Aslam Abdullah, editor in chief of Minaret, a Muslim magazine said he had asked to write a rebuttal in the apartment association's magazine but was refused He called the article "hate speech" and
said, "I have information that a few Muslims were denied rentals
after the publication of this article." "The Muslim religion teaches that they worship the same God that the Jewish people worship, that the Christian people worship, and that is a lie," Faller said. "So the primary purpose of my putting the article in was to point out that that's not true." He said the article had drawn strong support, particularly from Jewish readers. Another incident occurred in February, when a cardiologist of Indian origin was shot at in his Porterville, Calif., home in what prosecutors allege was a hate crime. Before dawn, a man knocked on the door of Indian-born Dr. Ashok Behl, then shot at Behl through a thick glass pane, said Porterville Police Sgt. Eric Kroutil. The doctor suffered injuries to the face and neck. The alleged gunman, Joe Howard Keel, 27, was arrested later the same day in Burbank, Kroutil said. Police said the shooting had been "possibly in retaliation for events in New York" and they have labeled it a hate crime. Keel told police he thought the doctor was "Arabic," Kroutil said. Anxiety among some South Asians and Arab Americans in Los Angeles heightened in May when the FBI issued a memo saying terrorists might target apartment buildings with explosives. The Los Angeles Police Department followed that memo by releasing a list of guidelines that encouraged owners to be more vigilant about prospective tenants-for example, people who are not disabled but want first-floor units. Though the guidelines do not target any group, and police officials have cautioned managers to obey anti-discrimination laws, some housing advocates and civil rights attorneys worry that the list will encourage landlords to discriminate. "We understand the need for security," Khan said. "our concern is, they are handing out these guidelines to untrained people who bring their own prejudices to this." |
