Petaluma Muslims, neighbors connect amid tensions

In the wake of rising tensions and hostilities directed at Muslims in some parts of the country, a group of Petaluma neighbors sent a message to the city’s lone Islamic house of worship: We support you.

Dozens of residents in the area near the Islamic Center of Petaluma on Bassett Street signed onto the letter saying they welcome the Muslim community as neighbors. This show of solidarity is in contrast to some communities around the country that have seen threats made against Muslims and racist graffiti on mosques.

It also comes at a time when the Trump administration has pushed what many perceive as anti-Muslim policies. During the presidential campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump called for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States,” until stricter vetting measure are put in place.

As president, Trump has issued two legally-fraught executive orders banning residents of certain Muslim-majority countries from traveling to the U.S., citing security concerns. His latest travel ban, which was last week blocked by two federal judges, would have imposed temporary travel restrictions on residents of six countries.

Petaluma’s small Muslim community, which has quietly worshiped at the Islamic Center since 2000, hails mostly from Pakistan, a nation not on the list of Trump’s travel ban. Nevertheless, local Muslims are concerned with the rising tensions and increased rhetoric, while acknowledging that Petaluma is about as safe and welcoming a place as any in America.

“Local people are very lovely people. We have very good neighbors in Petaluma,” said Ahmad Ali, the imam of the Islamic Center of Petaluma. “I’ve lived here for seven years and have never had any problems.”

The Muslim community of about 150 Petaluma residents this month held a town hall event, “The Muslim Next Door,” to introduce itself to non-Muslims and answer questions about the religion. More than 300 people attended the event at the Petaluma Community Center, said Salman Hameed, a member of the Islamic Center.

“The purpose was to engage the Petaluma community, let them know about Islam and let them know what Muslims are like,” said Hameed, a software engineer, who has lived in the U.S. for 20 years. “In these days, it’s important to do that outreach.”

Hameed said reports of incidents against Muslims in other parts of the country are troubling.

“Obviously, we are concerned. We don’t want our friends and family affected because we are Muslims,” he said. “We’re thankful to be in Petaluma, but it only takes one person to do something crazy.”

Petaluma Police confirmed that there have been no reported incidents or threats made against the local Muslim community. Deputy Police Chief Tara Salizzoni, who attended the outreach event, said the police department has a good relationship with the Muslim community. She said three hate crimes have been reported this year, none religious based.

“Petaluma is a diverse community,” she said. “Committing crimes based on religion is not tolerated.”

While Petaluma’s Islamic community is small, the larger Islamic Society of Santa Rosa draws Muslims mostly of Arabic descent, which include several countries affected by the travel ban.

Kayvan Nikfar, who owns the Apple Box cafe in Petaluma, moved here from Iran in the 1970s, and has lived in Petaluma for more than 20 years. Iran is another country targeted in Trump’s travel ban. While he does not consider himself a practicing Muslim, Nikfar said that anti-Islamic policies are worrying.

“The tensions that Donald Trump is creating reminds me of the time Hitler came to power,” he said. “He is saying the same things. I hope history doesn’t repeat itself.”

Nikfar said that Petaluma is a welcoming place for people of Middle Eastern descent or Muslims in general, a sentiment echoed by members of the Islamic Center. The center itself includes a mosque on the top floor, a cavernous room adorned with green ornamental carpet. On the white walls, Koranic verses are written in Arabic calligraphy.

After Friday prayers last week, Islamic Center members Waseem Khan and Rashid Mughal, both Pakistani Americans, spoke about being a Muslim in this part of the country.

“We get a tremendous amount of support from the community,” said Khan, a fast food restaurant owner, who has lived here for 37 years. “The only thing we have heard is positive. We feel blessed to live in Petaluma.”

Mughal, an electronic technician, who has been in Petaluma for 16 years, said that rhetoric over security concerns is due to terrorist groups that misuse the religion.

“Islam means peace,” he said. “There is nothing in our religion that makes us extremist.”

(Contact Matt Brown at matt.brown@arguscourier.com.)