Some North Texas Muslims fear backlash after California shooting

Local Muslims fear a backlash in North Texas after the deadly attacks in San Bernardino.

Members of the North Texas council of American Islamic relations said they condemned the acts by killer Syed Farook and his wife because it doesn’t match up with the teachings of their faith. But they remained concerned they could become targets.

“I haven't gotten any reports as of yet, but I sure expect them it happens pretty much every single time,” said CAIR spokesman Alia Salem.

A member of a Richardson mosque said he was worried about his family.

 “With kids at school, wives and moms going out and doing their shopping wearing their hijab, there will definitely be people staring at them making comments, slurs,” said Omair Siddiqui.

Several of Farook's neighbors said they noticed suspicious activity before Wednesday's mass shooting but didn't say anything because they didn't want be accused of racial profiling.

The CAIR spokesman said as a responsible citizen, people should always speak up.

“But check yourself. Ask yourself am I feeling this way because only because of this person's demographic or are there real concrete things that have happened that make me believe that,” Salem said.

CAIR said American Islamic communities everywhere will likely be a scapegoat for people's anger.

“Unless we do some dramatic things as a community to diffuse this type of tension I think we're in this for a long haul,” Salem said.