The Dangers of Islam: The Imam

Chapter 2

     Nedim pushed past the crowd at the mosque and paused at the entrance. The mob had torn apart the front gate, used molotovs on the front lawn, and strewn bacon and pigs blood all over the parking lot. A large man pushed Nedim away from the entrance while holding a baseball bat.

     "F**k the Muslims! Let's bash their mosque in!" The burly white male yelled, enticing the crowd. 

     "Remove yourself from the premises immediately," a voice ordered over a megaphone. Nedim looked around and sighed in relief once he spotted the riot police. He was sure that if the man with the bat had managed to rile up the rumbustious crowd, they'd all be in trouble. One of the police officers seemed to recognize Nedim and pulled him aside.

     "You're the pastor here, right? Listen, we tried to keep them away from the premises and all, but they were angry, anyone would be. The terrorist came from this mosque. They just announced it on the news and we expected this to happen," the officer explained to Nedim. 

     "Then why didn't you do anything? You keep calling him a terrorist when you know nothing! The attack JUST happened. His little girl was with him! How could he kill all of those people with his little girl with him? Does any of this make any sense to you?" Nedim asked in anger. 

     "Calm down, camel jockey. I've got half a mind to punch you in the face. If we weren't required by law, we'd have let these patriots take your place apart," another officer growled before pushing past Nedim. 

     "You can't seriously be equating my religion to terrorism, can you?" Nedim asked in disbelief. 

     "Looks like a duck, quacks like a duck," another officer spat out.

     Nedim clenched his fist. He wanted to swing at the men in front of him, but he knew that he would be labeled a terrorist, just like Dawood. Dawood, Nedim thought before heading inside the mosque to check for any damage. I don't understand how they can say he blew up the theme park. He fought for the rights of suicidal teens, he fought for the right of a dead Muslim American soldier, he is pro-life in every aspect of his life. None of this makes any sense. Iman. I'll call her. She probably knows what's going on.

     Iman Abdullah-Khan was Dawood's wife. They had only been married three months and now Nedim was sure that her world had been turned upside down. Iman wasn't one to jump headfirst into marriage and had taken her time to find a husband that was both respectful and a practicing Muslim. There was no way that a woman who had waited years to find her spouse would marry a terrorist. She's too intelligent for that. She loves Khadijah and would never put her in harms way. Something's wrong. Something went wrong on that trip. 

     Nedim pulled out his phone and thumbed through his contacts. He found Iman's number and dialed it apprehensively. One ring turned to two. Two rings turned to three. He paced a little, worrying for the woman who had effectively built the youth center at the mosque all by herself. Nedim nearly hung up when he heard the call reach it's sixth ring. 

     Instead, he heard the familiar click of the phone being answered and nearly called out Iman's name. Nearly. He paused once he heard voices on the other side.

     "Your husband is a terrorist, Mrs. Khan. It's better that you come clean about his intentions. Tell us about the terror groups he met with while deployed in Afghanistan," a male voice declared threateningly.

     "MY BABA IS NOT A TERRORIST!" A child yelled at the top of her lungs.

     Khadijah.

     "Shut your kid. We don't have time for this. Your husband was found with explosives, guns, and a copy of the Qur'an. Let's not beat around the bush. He killed more than 3000 people. Tell me who he works for!" Another man hollered.

     "Did he leave his passport as well?" A female voice asked calmly.

      Iman. She wants me to listen. She wants me to know what's happening. Who are the men? Why is Khadijah with Iman? Wasn't she with Dawood? Where's Dawood?

    "Do you find this to be comical, Mrs. Khan?" The first male asked angrily. 

     "I find it congruent with other terrorist attacks that my husband was not a part of as well. Isn't it strange that you already know the body count when this attack happened mere hours ago? Not only that, my husband was with his friend. They brought their daughters to the park. Why would Dawood hide them in a restroom after the first bomb exploded if he was the mastermind?" Iman asked irately.

     "You don't know what happened in there," Male 2 growled.

      "My daughter does. Call my husband's friend. He'll tell you what happened," Iman replied simply.

      "We did. He has agreed to give a statement confirming our findings. Now, Mrs. Khan, do you really want to butt heads with the FBI, CIA, DHA, and every law enforcement office in the country?" Male 1 asked.

     "So he's going to lie and betray his friend. My husband is not a terrorist. If that means butting heads with the corrupt institutions you represent, then so be it," Iman replied. 

     With that, the phone call ended.