E/CN.4/2002/24 page 11 of physical violence or direct threats of specific acts of violence. These incidents range from simple assault and battery to arson, aggravated assault, and at least six murders. These acts have been “random, spontaneous, and without geographical concentration” said the ADC. 18. The ADC also identified other types of discrimination against Muslims and Arabs which include: (a) Airline racism: 27 cases in which persons perceived to be Arab have been expelled from aircraft after or during boarding on the grounds that passengers or crew do not like the way they look. The Department of Transportation has affirmed that this is “not only immoral but illegal”; (b) Employment discrimination: several hundred cases of employment discrimination against Arab Americans since 11 September, including numerous terminations; (c) Law enforcement profiling: numerous cases involving Arab Americans being searched and questioned by police for no apparent reason; (d) Tensions in schools: Arab American students have had problems with other students, and in a few cases teachers and administrators as well. 19. The American authorities have reacted swiftly against the attacks on Muslim and Arabs. On 17 September, President George Bush visited the Islamic Center in Washington D.C. to defuse tension and said, inter alia, that: “The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That’s not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don’t represent peace. They represent evil and war. “When we think of Islam, we think of a faith that brings comfort to a billion people around the world. Billions of people find comfort and solace and peace. And that’s made brothers and sisters out of every race - out of every race. “America counts millions of Muslims amongst our citizens, and Muslims make an incredibly valuable contribution to our country. Muslims are doctors, lawyers, law professors, members of the military, entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, moms and dads. And they need to be treated with respect. In our anger and emotion, our fellow Americans must treat each other with respect. “Women who cover their heads in this country must feel comfortable going outside their homes. Moms who wear cover must not be intimidated in America. That is not the America I know. That is not the America I value. “I have been told that some fear to leave; some don’t want to go shopping for their families; some don’t want to go about their ordinary daily routines because, by wearing cover, they are afraid they will be intimidated. That should not and that will not stand in America.”