Muslim in America: Community speaks of concerns in San Bernardino aftermath

SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) - Members of the Muslim community are speaking out about their concerns in the aftermath of the San Bernardino attack.

KTVU spoke with two Muslim Americans— one a San Francisco police officer, the other, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur.

Both say they're saddened that Muslims are being looked at suspiciously because of the actions of two people.

"I always wanted to be a San Francisco cop. This is the city my family immigrated to right out of Afghanistan," said Officer Yossef Azim.

The 30- year-old is Muslim American. He has served on the San Francisco Police force for six years and patrols the Tenderloin.

Azim is the first in his family to be born in the United States. He says his faith has helped him build trust and relationships in the Tenderloin where there is a large Muslim community.
　
"The terrorist groups out there...that's not Islam. Islam is doing what we do...serving people," said Azim.

And hopefully shop owners and other Muslims will confide in him if someone shows signs of radicalization. 

Azim says the San Bernardino attack is a setback.

"One step forward, four steps back. So every time you're doing something really good and you're trying to show everybody hey, we're good people and then you see something happen in the media, it kind of crumbles what you’re working on," said Azim. "The message is to do what is right. Educate yourself to go out there and show what a true Muslim is."

Across the city in the Presidio, Amra Tareen, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, tells KTVU she's talked to her two sons about the San Bernardino attack and what she describes as hate speech from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
　
"Sad and angry. To me it's a little bit of anger. Why-why are we doing this? We should be moving towards being one community," said Tareen.

She says her 14-year-old is now hesitant to identify himself as a Muslim American.

"Until now, there is never a question of not sharing who they are and to me, that's something I'm concerned about," said Tareen.

The 46-year-old came to the United States from Pakistan to attend Harvard Business School where she received her MBA. A job offer in Silicon Valley brought her to the Bay Area where she married an American.

"We are normal citizens, productive members of society, job creators. The American dream is what we are after and that's what we are pursuing in the United States," said Tareen.

For Officer Azim, the beauty of this country is its diversity.

"I was lucky to be able to live out this dream. I was born here. I don't know anything else. This is my country...just like it is everybody else's."

Both the officer and the entrepreneur say they feel lucky to live in the Bay Area because they personally have not experienced any backlash from the San Bernardino attack.

They are concerned for other Muslims around the country.