Twin Cities Muslims on guard as 9/11, holiday both approach

The anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks weighs heavily on the minds of Minnesota Muslims as they prepare to celebrate one of the most important holy days of the year.

For weeks they had worried that Monday’s Eid al-Adha, which marks the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, might fall on the 9/11 anniversary. Though the sighting of the moon placed this year’s Eid on Sept. 12, the proximity of a major holiday and a painful anniversary has fueled anxiety and led community leaders and local law enforcement to tighten security measures for Eid celebrations.

“There has been a long internal discussion about this since last year,” said Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). “The overwhelming answer has been that the community should do what they are doing, but there should be extra vigilance.”

http://www.startribune.com/for-twin-cities-muslims-9-11-casts-shadow-on-holiday/392917041/