9/11 Memorial Shuns Muslim Hero

(Newser) – As the World Trade Center burned on Sept. 11, a young police cadet rushed to the aid of victims—but you won't see his name on the 9/11 memorial's list of first responders. And even though his body was discovered amid debris from the north tower, Mohammad Salman Hamdani's name isn't mentioned alongside other victims found there. Instead, he's listed among those with little or no connection to the World Trade Center. "They do not want anyone with a Muslim name to be acknowledged at Ground Zero with such high honors," his mother tells the New York Times.

After the attacks, Hamdani, who is Muslim and was born in Pakistan, was wanted for police questioning; documents called for his detention. His body was found months after the attacks and suspicion finally evaporated. Since then, Hamdani has been celebrated as a hero, receiving praise from New York officials including Michael Bloomberg. But as a cadet, he wasn't a full-fledged officer, and his lack of official affiliation with any first responder group has relegated his name to a separate list on the memorial. Click for Hamdani's full story.