The Hill News

Testimony of Abdirizak Bihi before the Committee on Homeland Security hearing “The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community’s Response” on March 10, 2011.

Many Somali American families fled from a burning civil war to the refugee camps in neighboring Kenya where killings, gang rape, starvation and civilian mass murdering was common. They waited in those camps for years and years to be rescued by the international community. Many of them, including my sister and her son, Burhan Hassan, were fortunate to have made it safely to the shores of the United States of America.

These lucky families were very good at adapting to life in the U.S. They have found not only peace and safety, but many other valuable opportunities such as employment and free first class education for their children. They also found the ability to build their own communities and start their own businesses, such as Somali malls, community o! rganizations, as well as their own mosques to freely practice their faith.

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