Despite Barack Obama's plea for tolerance and 'national unity' in the wake of the San Bernadino shootings, Donald Trump's recent remarks about banning Muslims from entering the US have stirred up a wave of anti-Islamic attacks.
IN: Sarker Haque runs…
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Script:
UPSOT of people in shop
Sarker Haque runs a small food shop in one of New York's most diverse areas… Astoria, in Queens.
But on Saturday night, he ended up in hospital simply because of his religion, after a customer attacked him multiple times.
SOT: Sarker Haque, Owner, Fatima Food Mart
It was a white American. He came to my store, and I sell the New York Post, and he was reading the New York Post, you know, the front page. The front page has the California accident, you know, the husband and wife. The wife has a hijab and her picture, he watching. He turning, he punched me, my head. Then I falling down here, then I screaming 'What's going on, what the hell are you doing with me, what's up buddy?' So then he said, 'I want to kill Muslims'.
And Mr Haque's not alone in being targeted for his faith. One Muslim advocacy group says it's received more reports of Islamophobic violence in the last week and a half than at any time since 9/11.
In the wake of Donald Trump's comments, Ahmed Shedeed, the president of an Islamic Centre in New Jersey says he, and other Muslims in the area, have received anonymous letters supporting the Republican candidate, and telling them to get out of America.
SOT: Ahmed Shedeed, President, Islamic Center of Jersey City
Yes there is fear. There's a lot of people, especially the women and kids, they stay home. Some of the kids, they don't want to go to school because they're afraid someone will be bullying them or make fun of them, because of the way they look, the way they speak, their religion.
UPSOT prayers
This is one of the areas of New Jersey where Mr. Trump says Muslims celebrated after 9/11. But people here say not only are his claims untrue, but that that period was a frightening one for their community. Now, Ahmed Shedeed fears those times have returned.
SOT: Ahmed Shedeed, President, Islamic Center of Jersey City
Every gathering that we have here, every prayer, we advise people what to do, and to watch out. The security in this place and other mosques, we're on very high alert.
Despite Barack Obama's pleas for tolerance and American unity, and condemnation of Donald Trump's comments from both sides of the political aisle, it seems Muslims in the US will have to live with increased security and increased fear for some time to come. Lorna Shaddick, New York.