NJ Woman Found Passion To Combat Islamophobia After 9/11 Attacks

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Saima Bhutta sat there, staring at the TV with her baby in her lap, as two airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center.

It was an event that would change her life, setting her off on a course of activism that touched the lives of many throughout South Jersey and helped her find her calling in life.

But on that day in September 2001, the mother’s first thoughts were of her children.

“I took my baby in my car and went right to the school,” Bhutta, of Moorestown, said. “There was a big lineup of mothers whose first instinct was to get their child. I got my child and went home. The next few hours were hell because I was not sure what was going to happen to me and what was going to happen to the world.”

What ensued was a war in Afghanistan that would last 20 years. During that time, Bhutta also saw an anti-Muslim sentiment grow in the country. Violent actions, anti-Muslim rhetoric and covert surveillance of Muslim organizations and Muslims on college campuses made Bhutta uneasy, and it motivated her to take action.

“Many Muslims had never faced racism before, and they had no idea what was going on,” Bhutta said. “It didn’t hit home for them.”

When it did, their first instinct was to withdraw from the rest of the community, Bhutta said. Her goal was to educate members of the Muslim community, including those who had withdrawn.

She founded the Pakistan American Society of South Jersey with Zia Rehman, Aqil Khan and Habib Qurashi, with the goal of building bridges and promote diversity, as well as understanding of Pakistani culture through social activities in communities throughout South Jersey.

“The goal was to bring our people together with the community at large,” Bhutta said. “To join hands and to live in harmony.”

Her message: America is like a salad because it’s a mix of all different cultures that have been brought together. The dressing is the shared pride Americans have for their country.

She said it took a while to gain any momentum because they were in their comfort zone. When Muslims saw another round of Islamaphobia emerge in the middle of the last decade, she knew she needed to do more.

In 2014, Bhutta helped found the Muslim Federation of South Jersey alongside Ajaz Noor Mohammed, Rubina Ahmad, Asim Shafi and Farhat Bivij. The idea was formulated in her basement, with the goal of forming a united front of various denominations of Muslims in South Jersey working on community outreach and civic activities.

“We made sure we registered voters, and that we have a voice,” Bhutta said.

This proved to be a difficult message to deliver to minority populations that have a lot of mistrust when it comes to politicians.

“You have to talk to them,” Bhutta said. “You can’t just give them something to read at home. Sometimes, they have to be convinced.”

Bhutta said she shows compassion, and people open up to her about their problems.

“It comes with time,” Bhutta said. “I came across people who didn’t want to get vaccinated. I told them I got vaccinated so many months ago, and I didn’t die. I tell them what symptoms they could have and tell them it won’t kill you.”

She builds trust not just because she looks like those she is speaking to, but because she has a background as a healthcare professional. From 2005 to 2006, Bhutta provided health care services to the homeless in Camden County through Project H.O.P.E and the Catholic Charities of Camden County.

In addition to voter registration drives and helping convince people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, Bhutta has volunteered in the 2020 Census Complete Count Committee in Burlington County. This includes making sandwiches to take to Census outreach events to give away to public in underserved communities.

She also participated in many protests, including those speaking out against human rights violations around the world and Black Lives Matter protests. She also tries to get children involved in their community.

“They don’t know what can happen if they don’t get involved,” Bhutta said.

Her husband is active, too, as he is a past president of the Islamic Center of South Jersey. They have lived in Moorestown for 15 years. Although her activism was thrown into high gear, and she discovered her passion for helping people, after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, she has always been passionate about America.

“As soon as I got my American citizenship, I started voting. I went door-to-door, and I took my kids out canvassing,” Bhutta said. “My son is in the military. We love America, and we are passionate about our country.”

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