TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Things happening within the Muslim community around the world are hitting home right here in Green Country.
The mosque shooting in Quebec and President Trump’s immigration ban put on seven countries has Muslims in Tulsa nervous and scared. One man whose family lives in Syria doesn’t know when the next time he’ll see his parents
“They would love to come back and visit,” Fuad Shimi says of his nieces in Syria. “But that’s a really big question whether they would be able to or not.”
Shimi moved to the United States 25 years ago. He worked as a software engineer, now in real estate. He lives in a beautiful home in Broken Arrow and his parents live in war-torn Syria.
“Electricity is really scarce,” he says in their living situation. “You get one hour of electricity and five hours without. You get one day of water and then four, five days without water.”
Shimi visited earlier this month in Lebanon. Syria was too dangerous to travel to. Now, he doesn’t know if he’ll get back.
“It’s been quite emotional,” says Dr. Kamran Abbasi, the Outreach Director for the Islamic Society of Tulsa.
When the weekend’s news broke, Dr. Abbasi was heartbroken. Shimi is one of his closest friends.
“I’m an immigrant,” Abbasi says. “I’ve been here for 35 years and I’m ready to stand for American values and uphold the Constitution and I’m made to feel less American.”
Protests sparked around the world. Millions in America standing up including friends here at home.
“They’re all willing to walk,” Shimi says. “To march, to sign petitions to do whatever is necessary to stop this.”
“There were letters from Tulsa, Oklahoma City, there were letters from Ardmore, from Los Angeles,” Abbasi says. “These were letters from all over the country, they were letters of love and support. That you’re not alone, we’re with you.”