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Dozens of immigrants from a wide range of faiths and backgrounds, though mostly South Asian, gathered in Flushing last weekend to denounce what they deem racial profiling when it comes to the arrest of suspected terrorists.

On Saturday Oct. 10, community members gathered in front of the Flushing Public Library in response to the FBI and NYPD terror raids that occurred in Queens in September. A Flushing man was arrested and charged with lying to the FBI, and other arrests were made in Colorado – including a man who had stayed with a friend in Queens.

The rally, organized by Desis Rising Up and Moving, featured an array of speakers who spoke in front of the backdrop of DRUM members in red T-shirts holding white and neon signs with handwritten massages like “Stop the Raids” and “FBI Stay Out Of Our Communities.” DRUM is a Jackson Heights-based group seeking equal rights and justice for low-income South Asian and Muslim immigrants.

Of all the speakers, most notable was Niaz Khan, whose Flushing home is where suspected terrorist Najibullah Zazi was staying when he was apprehended by the NYPD. Zazi has been charged with conspiring to detonate explosives in New York City on Sept. 11 and is currently being held without bail in New York.

Although Khan declined to discuss specifics about the case, he said the raid of his home has had far-reaching penalties in his personal life.

“My life is so, been affected by this,” Khan said. “I have no job now. I am looking for a job. Before, the people who used to give me a job, if they heard about they will not give me that job again.”

Khan said he has been nervous and scared since the raid and has had to put his “life on hold.”

“I couldn’t go to Pakistan to meet my wife and my children for the Eid celebration,” he said in a downtrodden tone.

DRUM Executive Director Monami Maulik said the message of the press conference was simple and clear.

“An entire community, people and religion should not be profiled and characterized as terrorists because of certain investigations,” she said. “We understand that investigations should happen but they should happen in a manner that’s lawful and respects people’s dignity and due process rights.”

Maulik said after dozens of raids, local Muslims live in fear of being harassed by the NYPD. Two other DRUM members also spoke. One teenaged member recalled being asked if she was a terrorist by an NYPD officer when she was only 12 years old.

Members of the Latino community also came out in support. Jennifer Arieta of Vamos Unidos, a coalition of street vendors, said she came to “stand in solidarity with the Muslim community.”

Miguel Ramirez, president of Centro Hispano Cuzcatlan, said racial profiling is an issue that affects many ethnic communities.

“This isn’t a Muslim issue,” he said. “This is an immigrant issue, a Latino issue. That’s why I am here today.”

Local Imam Ayub Abdul Baki said the Muslim community condemns all forms of terrorism and fundamentalism, whether it may be Islamic, Christian or Jewish. He also said the community applauds the police for the work they do but continues to denounce arrests and raids based solely on race or religion.

“We stand with those people who stand for what is truly American,” Baki said. “The freedom of religion is a right and for one’s faith one should not be victimized, vilified, demonized or criminalized.”

DRUM member Romy Chowdhury, 20, said he came to the event, along with approximately 20 other fellow DRUM members, to raise awareness and alter unwarranted misconceptions about his religious community.

“We just want to show that not all Muslims are terrorists and we can’t all be put under one umbrella,” he said.

Reach Reporter Kaitlyn Kilmetis at kkilmetis@queenstribune.com, or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.