HuffPost: ‘Never Going To Be The Same’: Members Of The San Diego Muslim Community Are Traumatized

The San Diego Muslim community continues to grapple with grief and trauma following the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, where three men were killed while helping protect others from the attackers. Tazheen Nizam, executive director of CAIR San Diego, described the emotional devastation of arriving at the mosque and seeing the body of security guard Amin Abdullah, who is credited with helping save nearly 140 children at the on-site school. The other victims, Nadir Awad and Mansour Kaziha, have also been remembered as heroes for their actions during the attack, including calling 911 and warning others of the danger.

Community members say the tragedy has left many feeling unsafe even in places meant for worship and education. Some residents criticized the police response, arguing that community members themselves were the ones who protected children and prevented an even larger massacre. The attack, which authorities are investigating as a hate crime, has also renewed concerns over rising Islamophobia nationwide. Advocacy groups reported record numbers of anti-Muslim incidents in recent years, while investigators said the teenage attackers were influenced by racist and extremist ideologies. Despite the pain, local leaders say healing will depend on unity, stronger community relationships, and confronting hate before it escalates into violence.