Muslims and Arab-Americans across metro Detroit -- greatly impacted by the war on terrorism over the past decade -- rejoiced at the news that Osama bin Laden was killed.
"The world is definitely a better place without the patron of all terrorists," said Imam Hassan Al-Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, the largest mosque in a city that has the highest concentration of Arab-Americans in the U.S. Qazwini called bin Laden "the world's most infamous thug."
"It is so comforting to see justice being served while the families of the thousands of his victims rejoice," he said.
In Dearborn, spontaneous celebrations broke out shortly after the President Barack Obama announced bin Laden's death, say local residents. At Dearborn City Hall, Arab-American Muslim men beamed as they waved U.S. flags in support.
There were also loud fireworks set off in celebration in east Dearborn, which is the heart of the community. And drivers honked their horns as they drove by on Warren Avenue, a commercial strip in east Dearborn dotted with Arab-owned businesses.
Her children woke Hind Rabadi, 53, of Dearborn, who moved to the U.S. from Jordan in 1974, when they heard the news of Bin Laden’s demise.
“Because they know how I feel about him,” Rabadi explained about why they woke her up at 11:30 p.m. Sunday. “I was so happy, I couldn’t sleep!”
Rabadi was a screener for a Detroit Metro Airport security company when the Twin Towers fell, then was laid off a few months later as the threat of terrorism affected the travel industry.
“I’ll never forget how silent was the airport when that happened,” she said. She blames bin Laden for her layoff, which led the single mother of five children to cobble together a comparable living by working two jobs – one at the Eastborn Fruit Market in Dearborn, where she was working today. “I’m so happy. It should have been done a long time ago. What took them so long to find him?”
Ibrahim Aljahim, 29, of Detroit said of bin Laden: "He never represented Muslims or anyone else."
"It's a great thing," added Aljahim, head of Arab American Outreach. "We're very happy. He hurt Muslims more than any other religious groups."
In his address late Sunday, President Barack Obama echoed similar thoughts, saying: "Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader. He was a mass murderer of Muslims."
At the same time, some Arab-American leaders cautioned that the battle against extremism is not yet over.
"As gratifying as it is to see this, we should continue to be on alert," said Imad Hamad, regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. "Executing the symbol of bin Laden does not execute the ideology (of extremism). It's a vital mistake to focus on the person and ignore the ideology."
Arab Americans and Muslims felt the impact after bin Laden's Sept. 11 attacks as federal law enforcement shifted its focus toward counterterrorism, leading in some cases to extra scrutiny in metro Detroit, known nationwide for its sizable Arab and Muslim communities. But bin Laden was generally reviled in metro Detroit's Muslim communities.
"We welcome the elimination of Osama bin Laden and the threat that his terrorist leadership posed to the people of the world," said Dawud Walid, head of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Nasryn Abouarabi, 23, of Dearborn said this morning that she feels Bin Laden’s death is one more chapter in an ongoing saga that breeds hate toward the Muslim community.
“While that part angers me, the actual story is something I’m used to,” she said. “I think that his supposed death – if he’s really dead – there’s going to be someone else popping up. I think things are going downhill for us, for Arabs, socially. I don’t see a better general outlook for us.”
When issues like this arise, Abouarabi, who wears a Muslim scarf, said she feels a sense of unease from people who may be intimidated and uninformed.
“I invite people to ask me questions,” said the recent Wayne State University graduate, who received a degree in English literature. “I don’t like it when people look at me differently.”
Mairam Agemy, 73, of Dearborn called bin Laden’s death “great news,” which she hopes will bring an end to military conflicts in the Middle East.
“God bless this country!” said Agemy, who moved to America from Lebanon in 1955. “And I hope there will be peace all over and our soldiers will come home safe.”
Metro Detroiters outside the Arab-American and Muslim communities were also glad that bin Laden was dead.
Amanda Andreski, 19, of Royal Oak faces final exams at George Washington University, where she is a student.
But after hearing the news that Osama bin Laden was killed, she and many others poured into the streets in Washington, D.C., around the White House in celebration.
"U-S-A! U-S-A!" people chanted, she said by phone from the streets of Washington. "This is amazing. People are coming here from every direction. It's insane!"
Some even climbed trees and lamp posts in excitement. Others chanted "Obama got Osama" and broke out in patriotic songs, Andreski said.
"Every song that has 'America' in it was sung," she said. "Pennsylvania Avenue is packed with people and even more are coming."
Drivers are "honking and blaring their horns," she said. "People are so patriotic."
“That was some great news for this country,” Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said of Osama bin Laden’s death. “It’s something that’s been long awaited.”
Hackel credited Obama and former President George W. Bush and special operations forces for their efforts in finding bin Laden and federal agencies for keeping the country safe since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
“I think it really tells us, as citizens, that our leaders at the federal level are interested in protecting Americans here and abroad,” Hackel said.
Hackel, who was county sheriff when 9/11 happened, said the news is similar to law enforcement officials catching someone who may have killed another person — a feeling of satisfaction that one is made accountable for their actions.
Hackel said his main concern now is repercussions from bin Laden’s death.
“Just because you got rid of the figurehead leader, there are still other operatives behind the scenes to find destructive ways to harm human beings,” he said.
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