US Afghans fly the flag

Residents of "Little Kabul" side with the US

By Maggie Shiels in California

"Osama Bin Laden Wanted Dead Or Alive" is the message emblazoned on a t-shirt for sale at a store in Fremont, 57 kilometres (35 miles) east of San Francisco.

What is unusual about this city is that it is home to 30,000 Afghan refugees, the biggest single Afghan population in the United States. It is one of four east bay cities providing refuge to a total of 60,000 Afghans who have fled war and persecution in their own country.

The 98 Cents store that sells the t-shirt is situated in the heart of an area known locally as Little Kabul because of the plethora of Afghan businesses that have congregated there over 20 years.

The local mosque teaches Americans about Islam

Store manager Armand Arif came to Fremont in 1990 after fleeing the fighting in Kabul. In halting English he explains: "I needed freedom. This country is good freedom for the people. When my country free, I like to go back. But not with the Taleban. Not with Osama Bin Laden".

All along this stretch of Little Kabul, businesses fly the American flag to show solidarity with their adopted homeland. Perhaps more importantly, such patriotism also illustrates a greater point - that these people have nothing to do with Osama bin Laden or the terrorist attacks of 11 September.

A few doors down is the Pamir Food Market. In the back is a butcher's shop where local Afghan men and women gather to shop and swap news about loved ones back home. Such get-togethers have taken on a whole new meaning with the US-led military attacks on their country.

Freedom fighter

Owner Homayoun Khamoush, who fought the Russians as a freedom fighter for the mujahideen, now backs the US.

"We support America with their attack because we want to get rid of this terrorism," he says. "We have suffered a lot, my country and my people."

And for some the suffering continues. Mashal Akbari moved to Fremont three years ago after fleeing the Taleban in Kabul. He has just learned that two uncles and two cousins died in the US bombing.

"They were sleeping, innocent people," he says. "The missile hit their house. This is another terrorism. You hit innocent people, that is terrorism."

Homayoun Khamoush wants terrorism stopped

Just ten miles away from Little Kabul in the neighbouring town of Hayward is the Masjid Abu Bakr Al Siddiq Mosque. It is the spiritual home of over 6,000 Afghans who come here for guidance and comfort.

The mosque is also playing an important part educating local Americans about the Afghan community. That role is much needed in light of reports that California's Attorney General Bill Lockyer is investigating over 230 race hate crimes in six cities following 11 September.

Mohammed Nasratty, the 79-year-old secretary of the mosque, says such incidents highlight the need for a conference to help people understand Afghans in the US and that Islam means peace.

"Islam doesn't mean to produce trouble, " Mr Nasratty says.