9/11 Remembered with Peace Walk, Concert; South Asians Play Vital Role

September 11, 2006

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5334638.stm

On September 11, 2006 BBC News reported, "South Asian celebrities, peace activists and religious leaders have been taking part in events to mark the fifth anniversary of the attacks on the World trade Centre in the United States.

At the 'Hope not Hate' youth summit in Washington this weekend the Pakistani rock star, Salman Ahmad, performed John Lennon's 'Imagine' as well as his own hits.

For the past five years, the lead singer of the group, Junoon, has been on a personal mission to educate young people about his faith through pop music.

He says the tragic events of five years ago have made him 'delve deeper' into what Islam is and what the religion means to him.

The singer, who moved to New York four years ago, believes the attacks 'changed the American Muslim identity.' They put it 'under a huge microscope,' he says.

Many South Asian worshippers from the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (Adams) in Virginia share that view.

'We've realised that being an American Muslim means something and being an American means that we have responsibilities to this nation,' reflects Afeefa Syeed, who moved to the US with her parents from Kashmir when she was two."