Though the rhetoric of the "War on Terror," has, since Obama's presidency been abandoned, many of the "War on Terror" policies remain in place. Some of the policies that have emerged under Obama in this vein have served to further violate the rule of law in the United States. The targeted killing of Anwar Al-Awlaki is just one example and while this act is in the past, President Obama's decision to sign into law, the 2012 NDAA containing provisions that allow for American citizens to be indefinitely detained, has positioned such policies to be a part of our future.
Because of the religious nature of the 9/11 attacks, the "War on Terror" policies have affected many Muslims and Muslim Americans. While many scholars have documented the negative consequences of said policies, the literature is relatively silent on the outcome of these impacts.
For example, questions that arise include whether Muslim American attitudes towards human rights, justice, and accountability as practiced by the United States government have changed as a result of the "War on Terror," polices and whether a change in attitude affects Muslim American's perception of their place in the institutions of the rule of law in the United Sates. Further have any attitudinal changes affected Muslim Americans' political participation?
These are some of the questions that I am seeking to address in my dissertation research. As a Muslim American myself, I believe that such research is imperative and important in order to give the Muslim American community a voice, and to contribute to the scholarly literature that is available on Muslim Americans. Moreover, this research is crucial to changing the political and policy discourse on Muslim Americans and what are considered to be legitimate anti-terrorism measures that balance human and civil rights with national security.
Maha Hilal is a PhD candidate in Justice, Law & Society at American University in Washington, D.C. Her area of research is in the field of human rights. To participate in the study, Maha can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
