{
  "id": 6695701,
  "title": "Muslim Americans are still shaping their place in America, 25 years after 9/11",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/muslim-americans-are-still-shaping-their-place-in-america-25-years",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-11T03:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/09/11/muslim-americans-are-still-shaping-their-place-in-america-25-years-after-911/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Muslim and Arab Americans are still navigating their place in American society. The events of that day, coupled with the subsequent rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes, instilled a sense of protective pride in their identities among the younger generation. To counteract discrimination and suspicion, this cohort has actively challenged bias, fought against discrimination, protested against intrusive surveillance, and opposed the notion that they are not sufficiently American.\n\nYoussef Chouhoud, a professor at Christopher Newport University, notes that these experiences forced Muslim Americans to become more knowledgeable about their faith and to articulate it effectively. This has contributed to a generation that is more confident in asserting their identities, including through political participation. Examples include New York City's first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani, and Democratic Senate nominee from Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed.\n\nHowever, negative perceptions persist. A Pew Research Center survey revealed that 43% of U.S. adults believe Muslims are less patriotic than other Americans, and 42% feel that Muslim Americans have a negative effect on the country. Recently, a far-right activist led a demonstration in Dearborn, Michigan, denouncing the \"Great Replacement\" of Christians and warning of the spread of \"Sharia law,\" even ripping up pages from the Quran.\n\nThe aftermath of 9/11 also saw the passage of the Patriot Act, which significantly expanded the government's surveillance and law-enforcement powers. While some provisions expired in 2020, the law's legacy continues to affect Muslim Americans, who face disproportionate scrutiny. Critics argue that the framework established by the Patriot Act and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security have been used in ways that extend beyond their original purpose, including during the political response to protests over Israel's war in Gaza.\n\nIslamophobia has evolved alongside the political climate, and is now used to stifle criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza. This includes increased scrutiny of universities and students protesting against the Israeli occupation, leading to arrests and charges. In 2024, under the Biden administration, law enforcement and universities continued to crack down on pro-Palestinian student protests, further demonstrating the ongoing impact of post-9/11 Islamophobia on American society.",
  "summary": "One of Zaid Fouzi’s earliest childhood memories is from a family picnic in Ohio. He was four years old. A man approached his mother, who wears a hijab, and said: “I’ll never forget 9/11 . I’ll never forget what you people did.” A verbal altercation with his father, laden with expletives, followed. Mr Fouzi and his older brother watched, stunned and frightened. It was a year after the September 11…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Muslim Americans are still shaping their place in America, 25 years after 9/11",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/muslim-americans-are-still-shaping-their-place-in-america-25-years-6696811",
        "published": "2026-09-11T03:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}