Repercussions of the travel ban on American Muslim women

On Monday President Trump revised a previous executive order that blocks citizens from six predominantly Muslim countries from coming into the United States, removing Iraq from the original list of banned countries.

Though the revised travel ban exempts citizens of the banned countries who are legal US residents and those who have legal visas to enter the US, fear has been invoked among many Muslims in America because of the Islamophobia they believe the ban represents.

Sereen Alia, a 21-year-old American Muslim women believes this travel ban not only affects the citizens of the countries banned, but has repercussions on Muslims as a whole. Alia believes the travel ban represents Islamophobic beliefs and reinforces the prejudice against Muslims in America.

“A lot of the terrorist attacks that happened in America didn’t happen by people of the countries on the banned list, so what’s the reason those countries are banned?” Alia said. “This ban heavily implies that Muslims are the real problem and this generates extreme Islamophobia in America.”

The revised travel ban has arguably improved its restrictions against who can enter the United States, but it still perpetuates the stereotypical beliefs that are held.

“I told someone I was Palestinian and he said ‘Oh, but you’re not crazy like the rest of them, right?’” Alia said. “What am I supposed to say to that?”

According to CNN, anti-Muslim hate crimes have increased 67% since last year, the highest amount of violence seen since the 9/11 terrorist attack. After President Trumps win, the Huffington Post reported Hijab wearing women had become targets of violence and various hate crimes. Multiple Muslim women who wear hijabs have reported people trying to pull their hijabs off and have been attacked because of their head wear.

“I don’t want to be ashamed of my religion but I don’t feel comfortable telling anyone I’m Muslim anymore because I don’t know how they will react,” Alia said. “I’m scared.”

https://medium.com/@kiannahendricks/repercussions-of-the-travel-ban-on-american-muslim-women-4bda5c94e2fe