NEW YORK, May 10: Muslim communities in New Jersey and neighbouring New York fear a backlash in the wake of the discovery of a plot by a Muslim group to kill American soldiers in Fort Dix, New Jersey.

Although all Islamic advocacy groups have condemned the incidents but the provocative language being used by right wing tabloids like the New York Post and Radio show hosts against the Muslim community is fuelling fear of attacks against the population.

“If these people did something, then they deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said a human rights activist. “But when the government says 'Islamic militants,' it sends a message to the public that Islam and militancy are synonymous. Don't equate actions with religion."

The Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee's New Jersey chapter participated in a conference called on Tuesday with FBI officials to discuss security matters. Hundreds of Muslim men from New Jersey were rounded up and detained by authorities in the months following the Sept 11, 2001, attacks, but none were connected to that plot.

Now, Muslims fear a resurgence of anti-Islamic sentiment and incidents of bias.

A survey by the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations counted 70 incidents of discrimination or bias against Muslims in New Jersey in 2005, the last year for which figures are available. Nationwide, the group counted 1,972 incidents in 2005, up from 1,522 in 2004. That is the highest level reported to the group in its 12-year history.

The group issued a statement on Tuesday praising authorities for foiling the plot.

It seems clear that a potentially deadly attack has been averted," the group said. “We applaud the FBI for its efforts and repeat the American Muslim community's condemnation and repudiation of all those who would plan or carry out acts of terror while falsely claiming their actions have religious justification.”

Yaser El-Menshawy, chairman of the Majlis Ash-Shura of New Jersey, the state's council of mosques, condemned the plot and said he is glad it was not carried out. But he said the motivation of people who plot against the government "cannot be stopped simply by law enforcement or military means alone."