America's only Muslim-majority city welcomes Syrian refugees

[Zarvan]

Muslims now outnumber non-Muslims in Hamtramck, a city which was once made up of 90 per cent Polish Catholic. ONLINE

The only majority Muslim city in the US has welcomed Syrian refugees with open arms while the rest of America agonises over the security implications of taking in refugees fleeing from the horrors of Islamic State (IS).

Muslims now outnumber non-Muslims in Michigan’s Hamtramck, a city which was once made up of 90 per cent Polish Catholic, and transformed by successive waves of immigrants from Bangladesh, Yemen and Bosnia.

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The latest additions to the burgeoning ethnic mix are 33 Syrians, all Muslim families with young children who fled their country’s brutal civil war.

Their arrival comes amid a national debate in the US over the risks of allowing refugees into the country who could be secret IS militants, plotting Paris-style terror attacks.

Republican candidates Donald Trump and Ben Carson want tougher monitoring of Muslims, while Michigan governor, Rick Snyder was the first of 31 governors who vowed to stop more Syrians coming to their states.



Hamtramck, aptly nicknamed ‘The world within two square miles’, is home to 22,000 people and its officials insist fears are overblown, adding that their doors remain open.

Thaer Hoshan, 40, fled Syria in 2012 with his pregnant wife Dalal, 37, and their five children, Shouk, 13, Shahed, 12, Rania, 10, Fadi, nine, and four-year-old Abdul-Hadi.



Recalling his story, he said his southern hometown of Daraa was one of the first to come under siege from Assad’s forces, who would shell civilians and burst into homes to slaughter men and rape women.

Without running water, power or access to schools, they escaped into Jordan where they say the UN put them through a 19-month vetting process before they could move to the US in August.

Once in the US, they were amazed t0 find many of the comforts and customs they enjoyed in the Middle East, from Arabic-speaking neighbours to bustling halal restaurants and shops stocked with Islamic gifts and fashion.

“Coming to the US was very nerve-racking. I had never heard of Michigan, let alone Hamtramck,” Hoshan said.

“I had no idea what to expect but once I got here I was surprised at how comfortable it felt. There is a mosque on the corner, most of the people speak our language. This place feels like home,” he added.

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Hoshan also said that he had never heard of the IS group or their crimes until he fled Syria. ”We are not a threat to anyone,” he said.

As latest census figures, put Muslims at a majority of 51 per cent, the Polish community, which was once the majority, now only makes up 11 per cent of the community. The Arab population stands at 23 per cent, Bangladeshis at 19 per cent and Bosnians and other Muslims at around nine per cent.

With the city now being home to an assortment of Bengali restaurants, food markets and boutiques selling sequined Muslim gowns, headscarves and veils including the niqab; members of the Polish community have moved away.



However, those who have stayed behind accuse Muslims landlords of letting vacant properties fall into disrepair or renting our properties while doing little to maintain them.

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“People here used to be fanatical about looking after their homes, shoveling the snow, cutting the grass, that sort of thing,” said Bernice Kurzawa, 84, who has called Hamtramck home for the past six decades.

“They are all renters now, they don’t care. Some of the women wear outfits where you can only see the eyes. The shops are all shutting because the Arabs eat their own food,” she added.

Another local, Barbara Zielinska, 60, said she feels ‘unsettled’ by groups of young Arab men congregating late at night, saying “We have an invasion of Muslims here now, I’m not afraid to say what needs to be said.”

Many also remain highly suspicious of what they call a ‘Sharia takeover’ or a ‘Muslim takeover’. Senior citizens in particular, have complained about being woken up each day by the 6:00am call to prayer.

Others; however, have been far more accommodating to Muslims and have been welcoming to Syrian refugees.

“We owe it to these people to ensure they don’t suffer a minute longer,” said Imam, an engineer who came to the US from Damascus nearly 40 years ago.

“When I heard they were coming here I took one of my vacant properties off the market just to make more room for them. These guys are not terrorists, they don’t want money – they want opportunity. And who are we to close the door on them? Who is Donald Trump to close the door on them?” he added.

PHOTOS: BRYAN WOOLSTON for Daily Mail

This article originally appeared on Mail Online.

America's only Muslim-majority city welcomes Syrian refugees - The Express Tribune

@Horus @Oscar @waz @Jango @Jungibaaz @Arsalan @Khafee @AUz @Areesh @Abu Zolfiqar @GURU DUTT @SarthakGanguly @nair @AUSTERLITZ @

 

[Azad-Kashmiri]

Shame on the Arabs. Shame on Pakistan for not taking in ANY refugees. This is why we need Islamic law to get rid of the nationalist parasites who have numbed limbs of the Muslims.

 

[Maarkhoor]

Shame on the Arabs. Shame on Pakistan for not taking in ANY refugees. This is why we need Islamic law to get rid of the nationalist parasites who have numbed limbs of the Muslims.

Syrian refugees never make any atempt or request to come Pakistan.

And the reasons you know better than me.

 

[Azad-Kashmiri]

Syrian refugees never make any atempt or request to come Pakistan.

And the reasons you know better than me.

Bhai jaan what is before them i think they would come. Please troll online and you'll see how the fithy scum are taking advantage of them in Jordan, and especially Egypt. At least we have ''some'' respect but these dogs have none, like hungry wild animals. Christendom is full of children traffickers and this is what is before them.

 

[Maarkhoor]

Bhai jaan what is before them i think they would come. Please troll online and you'll see how the fithy scum are taking advantage of them in Jordan, and especially Egypt. At least we have ''some'' respect but these dogs have none, like hungry wild animals. Christendom is full of children traffickers and this is what is before them.

i ask the same from a Syrian in UAE he replied in short first take care of yourself.

 

[SQ8]

Shame on the Arabs. Shame on Pakistan for not taking in ANY refugees. This is why we need Islamic law to get rid of the nationalist parasites who have numbed limbs of the Muslims.

Still waiting for you to come out of hiding behind that fake IP Mr Hizb Ut Tahrir.

 

[That Guy]

Shame on the Arabs. Shame on Pakistan for not taking in ANY refugees. This is why we need Islamic law to get rid of the nationalist parasites who have numbed limbs of the Muslims.

Pakistan has done more than enough for Muslim refugees. Taking in millions, and nearly destroying its own economy, what more could you ask? Pakistan has tried to play the "united Ummah" game, by no other Muslim majority nation is interested. Neither nationalism nor a theocratic system is the parasite, people who delude themselves to reality are the parasites.

Pakistan already has a lot on its plate, it has nothing to be ashamed of. It has done more than enough good in the world.

 

[Azad-Kashmiri]

Still waiting for you to come out of hiding behind that fake IP Mr Hizb Ut Tahrir.

I'm a sunni you infidel, not some shia group what you're accusing me. If you want to meet me at F-3 sector, Mirpur, Azad Kashmir, ANYTIME. You can't miss me I'll be the one in the black turban.

 

[SQ8]

I'm a sunni you infidel, not some shia group what you're accusing me. If you want to meet me at F-3 sector, Mirpur, Azad Kashmir, ANYTIME. You can't miss me I'll be the one in the black turban.

Interesting that someone in Mirpur needs to use an IP from a proxy. Unless they are either a dual ID or someone trying to hide. Is Pakistan Defence banned in Mirpur? I dont think so.

 

[Azad-Kashmiri]

Pakistan has done more than enough for Muslim refugees. Taking in millions, and nearly destroying its own economy, what more could you ask? Pakistan has tried to play the "united Ummah" game, by no other Muslim majority nation is interested. Neither nationalism nor a theocratic system is the parasite, people who delude themselves to reality are the parasites.

Pakistan already has a lot on its plate, it has nothing to be ashamed of. It has done more than enough good in the world.

Well sir, it is our duty to help them and I'm sure if you and your family were in any trouble you would ask for the same.

Interesting that someone in Mirpur needs to use an IP from a proxy. Unless they are either a dual ID or someone trying to hide. Is Pakistan Defence banned in Mirpur? I dont think so.

You've already insulted calling me some shia group. I never told you i was using IP, I'm on telenor. Like I said, meet me face to face like a man at the above address. Otherwise keep your coward comments to yourself. I've no interest in net-warriors!

 

[SQ8]

You've already insulted calling me some shia group. I never told you i was using IP, I'm on telenor. Like I said, meet me face to face like a man at the above address. Otherwise keep your coward comments to yourself. I've no interest in net-warriors!

One could be forgiven for thinking you are making an effort to sound stupid by distancing yourself from HT and then the ridiculous "Telenor" line, but your parroted arguments betray you. Clearly the black turban encloses an extremist brain that needs to be removed from this fine country's earth.

 

[Azad-Kashmiri]

One could be forgiven for thinking you are making an effort to sound stupid by distancing yourself from HT and then the ridiculous "Telenor" line, but your parroted arguments betray you. Clearly the black turban encloses an extremist brain that needs to be removed from this fine country's earth.

Think whatever you like, COWARD! Meet me at the address I've given. That is the difference between a Muslim and a hypocrite like you. Hypocrites by nature are cowards and stab you in the back and yet I'm telling you who and where I am and the coward in you makes excuses!

I don't hide behind ''OSCAR''. My name is Abdullah.

What are you going to do now, BAN ME, infidel!

@Oscar Just searched for Hizbul takrir Hizb ut-Tahrir - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a WAHABBI group that follows Sayid Kutb who murdered Nassar. Go and learn about Islam first and them come and debate me. There is a huge difference between Ahal-Sunnah Wal-Jamah -Brelvi and these dogs!

Instead of humiliating yourself further i suggest you go and correct yourself first and then try to label others.

 

[SQ8]

Think whatever you like, COWARD! Meet me at the address I've given. That is the difference between a Muslim and a hypocrite like you. Hypocrites by nature are cowards and stab you in the back and yet I'm telling you who and where I am and the coward in you makes excuses!

I don't hide behind ''OSCAR''. My name is Abdullah.

What are you going to do now, BAN ME, infidel!

@Oscar Just searched for Hizbul takrir Hizb ut-Tahrir - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a WAHABBI group that follows Sayid Kutb who murdered Nassar. Go and learn about Islam first and them come and debate me. There is a huge difference between Ahal-Sunnah Wal-Jamah -Brelvi and these dogs!

Instead of humiliating yourself further i suggest you go and correct yourself first and then try to label others.

Clear extremism there, unusual for a Bareilvi since the jamaat is more focused on Anti- Deobandi and Anti-Shia ideals. They do have their anti-wahabbi issues but the Takfiriat is common; as them and the Wahabbis, the Deobandis have the secondary task of declaring each other kafir.. as you show clearly... a far deviation from the original teachings. However, I am still not convinced; you are working too hard to dispel Hizb-ut-Tahrir. Is it really possible that someone who is spending so much time on the internet going mad at his keyboard on Jihad and Islam , and then claims to hate the Wahabbis has no interest in stopping them from spreading in his hometown? Especially since Hizb-ut-Tahrir is based in the UK and is spreading fast in the UK in the Pakistani community; many of whom are Mirpuris(who incidentally are not considered Kashmiris by the people of the valley itself for some reason better known to Kashmiris)

Funny how you feel humiliated based on an online forum where your existence is based upon 10101001's residing in a few servers when communicating with people based on 101010111 who are themselves 10110011.
You really have low ambitions. And I suggest you learn about Tareeqat and Shariat before even posting on Islam, its not even funny anymore.

So its Mirpur, "Abdullah" in the black pagri(as if there arent a hundred in Mirpur like that).. will have to dig deeper.

Pakistan has done more than enough for Muslim refugees. Taking in millions, and nearly destroying its own economy, what more could you ask? Pakistan has tried to play the "united Ummah" game, by no other Muslim majority nation is interested. Neither nationalism nor a theocratic system is the parasite, people who delude themselves to reality are the parasites.

Pakistan already has a lot on its plate, it has nothing to be ashamed of. It has done more than enough good in the world.

The issue has to do with the power of those beliefs translating into actions. Members who believe in this fabled caliphate will just as easily kill you, take your sister and rape her as their "wife" by their concepts of "Shariat".
The millions of refugees would be easily welcome here if they truly had the wish to come here. They have no interest in a nation that is(to them) already full of madness and offers them no security as to the level they desire to achieve.

The refugees on the other hand, find the Turkey-Europe route the closest and most convenient escape; going across Iraq is not feasible as ISIS blocks their way, Israel is a no no which leaves only turkey or the Sea. There is no welcome for them from their Arab "brothers" .The government will not let them go and will murder them rather than letting them flee. Only the rich make it on a aircraft and sea lanes don't exist other than the boats they come from.

Moreover, many of these "refugees" are Afghans, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and other young fellows just looking for a new life by the promise of the smuggler taking them on all the way from routes in Africa to Central Asia.

Pakistan can assist them, aid the Turks in housing them. But that is maximum we should be doing as anything else involves getting dirty in the mud of the crisis in the region; which we cannot afford as it would lead to our certain doom.

 

[Zarvan]

One could be forgiven for thinking you are making an effort to sound stupid by distancing yourself from HT and then the ridiculous "Telenor" line, but your parroted arguments betray you. Clearly the black turban encloses an extremist brain that needs to be removed from this fine country's earth.

Sir he is a Barelvi I don't he comes even close to be part of Hizbul Tahrir.

 

[Falcon29]

Are we supposed to be proud that it is Muslim majority? When Muslims are in masses, but masses of useless idiots who have embarrassing behavior or are total hypocrites. Majority of Muslims nowadays are idiots or hypocrites. They put on a religious face just to get a reputation so they can look down on other people yet their actions go against Islam. Such people should not be allowed to preach Islam at all, actually Muslims in general in non-Muslim countries should not try spreading Islam until they solve the problem within their community. That problem is their people cherry pick laws of religion or violate many of them yet somehow believe God loves them if they try converting others. Like Prophet Muhammad(SAW) did, he worked on his own people. He only had several dozen followers of Islam in the beginning yet he put so much effort and time making sure they don't end up like how modern Muslims are.

And then we have Muslims in Europe who have miserable behavior and are responsible for majority of crime. Yet nobody in the community seems to be wanting to change that. Therefore we shouldn't be proud at all that Muslim demographics are increasing in the West. Because that's not the goal in life according to Islam, what's the point of having so many Muslims when majority of them are hypocrites(in religious sense, meaning they don't follow almost all the rules but constantly bring up their 'Muslim' identity)? I don't want a world like that. It tells me Muslims only care about material gains and hence they sincere towards God. I'd take a few dozen companions of the Prophet over the 1.6 billion trash Muslims we have today.

As far as refugees, most of the people trying to get into EU are not Syrians but normal people just wanting citizenship. They are ruining it for Syrians. The true refugees are ones living in camps in neighboring countries. Either way the solution isn't running to EU or US. It is very fishy that people doing everything to get into West rather than any other destination. That tells me the people are probably wealthy seculars who want to live Western lifestyle. And then the Jews will encourage this because they want Christian whites to become minority. If Muslims can't see the plan Jews have then they are doomed. Thank God I'm an Palestinian that understands what's going on here.

Let me be honest with you, I hate being around Muslims nowadays. I also hate the immoral lifestyle everyone is living but I harsher towards Muslims. Because I was taught Muslims are the people who are not supposed to indulge in morality yet in the Muslim community there is immorality, jealousy, drama, cliques, etc...such low standards we have that I don't want to see any Muslim anymore besides some close people. I just go pray Friday prayer and get out. It's sad what Muslims have become today, they didn't keep up with the promise we made to God. And no wonder God is about to punish us immensely, we have yet to see anything.