State probes harassment cases Minorities report increased discrimination since Sept. 11 attacks

BANGOR – Noor Khan has heard a patron threaten to kill him, his family and his patrons. He’s endured at least 100 derogatory comments since Sept. 11, but his family was also invited to share Thanksgiving dinner with several families in the area.

Khan’s experiences mirror those of other minorities in Maine as Muslims and Arabs – as well as others mistakenly believed to belong to those groups – have been subject to harassment, suspicion and discrimination.

Khan, who owns Bahaar Pakistani Restaurant in Bangor, doesn’t let his two young children play outside at dusk because he fears for their safety. But Khan can also point to the many letters of encouragement he has received since people heard about the threats and harassment against his family.

“Most people don’t act in a biased way,” said Tom Harnett, assistant attorney general for civil rights education and enforcement. “During this difficult time we are really seeing the best and the worst.”

Since Sept. 11, the Attorney General’s Office has been involved in two serious harassment cases.

One involved Khan, who filed a complaint against a man in his restaurant who threatened him and his family. The second involved a Portland parking attendant who was threatened and shoved.

In both cases, the state issued injunctions that barred the offenders from making further threats. A violation of the injunctions is punishable with a fine of up to $5,000 and as much as one year in jail.

Up to 4,000 students have participated in civil rights seminars conducted by Harnett’s office. Staff at the sessions, which were planned well before Sept. 11, made a point of talking about harassment and respect for diversity, Harnett said.

The Maine Human Rights Commission is investigating 10 incidents of discrimination reported since Sept. 11, according to Patricia Ryan, the panel’s executive director. Two of the cases may be related to the attacks.

A Somali man in the Portland area complained he was fired a day after his employer learned he was a Muslim. A dark-complexioned woman was fired from her retail job after a customer questioned her origin and complained to her manager, Ryan said.

The allegations are under investigation, and the commission has not released any findings.

People who suffer discrimination are more likely to speak out if they have lost their jobs, Ryan said. But other incidents go unreported because the victims fear retribution.