HOUSTON -- A Harwin shop owner has been dealing with outrage and threats after he posted a sign on the store window saying Perfume Planet was closed on September 11 to honor the martyr Iman Ali.
The sign generated a lot of bitter comments on the Internet and dozens of angry calls each day at the Harwin Central Mart.
Folks were shocked, believing the shop was honoring a 9/11 terrorist.
"When we came back today, I didn't go back into the store," said Luke Vizena, who saw the sign last week.
"I won't do business with this store," said his friend.
Internet traffic was much angrier. One wrote, "This is sickening!!! How long will it take for us to become a Muslim country?"
Another said, "I could not stay in the building it made me so sick."
Store manager Imran Chunawala was stunned because the holiday had nothing to do with 9 /11.
Then he realized what happened. This year a key Ramadan Holiday happened to fall on 9/11.
"We did not explain enough in the sign because that is the exact same sign we put up every year on this particular day for this particular reason," said Chunawala.
He apologized for the confusion and put up a new sign thoroughly explaining the martyr they were honoring died in 661 AD.
"1400 years ago. That was a long time ago," said shopper Dolly Korenek.
Anti Defamation League Regional Director Martin B. Kominsky says this is a lesson for all of us.
"It's just such a painful day for all of us. We have to be careful of our emotions," Kominsky said.
"I feel ignorant now that I heard the rest of this story. I feel sorry that I made such a quick judgment. I really do," said Vizena when he heard the whole story behind the sign.
Ramadan follows the ancient lunar calendar. Each year, the month long event and key days fall on different days on the Gregorian calendar. That's the one used internationally for almost all business.
The ADL publishes a resource guide. It includes a calendar of events for all major religions for those who are interested.
