By Farkhunda Ali, IOL Correspondent
WASHINGTON — Through awareness campaigns, information gatherings and election guiding, Muslim groups in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area are on a mission to mobilize Muslim voters to get politically engaged.
“This year is an important election year. We as Muslims have to vote,” Faizul Khan, an imam at the Islamic Society of Washington Area (ISWA) in Silver Spring, Maryland, told IslamOnline.net.
Muslim organizations are sponsoring voting drives, with the focus of providing an easy access for Muslims to register for voting.
They invite candidates and officials to speak on their policies while activists educate the Muslim community members about the election process.
| Economy Top US Muslims Election Priority |
Last week, hundreds of DC Area Muslims attended the eighth annual Family and Civic Picnic organized by a group of Northern Virginia mosques and Muslim associations.
The event was also attended by state and local officials and candidates interested in courting Muslim votes, including representatives of Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain’s campaigns.
“The goal of the civic picnic was to promote our civic duties as Muslims,” said Rizwan Jaka, member of the Board of Trustees at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) in Virginia.
While enjoying halal hot dogs, chicken and cold watermelon, attendees listened to speeches from more than a dozen state and local officials and candidates.
They registered to vote, chatted with neighbors and enjoyed the company of fellow Muslims.
In Virginia alone, a preliminary count of Muslim voters earlier this year shows there are 71,000 registered Muslim voters.
The number is expected to increase by the final tally, which will be conducted before elections, Muslim activists say.
Many Islamic centers will continue to hold voter registrations after Friday prayer until the time of presidential elections.
MAS Freedom Foundation will be intensifying voter drives during the holy fasting month of Ramadan when large groups of Muslims come together for daily congressional prayers.
America is home to between six to seven million Muslims making up less than three percent of its population.
More than two millions of them are registered voters.
Awareness
Activists argue that the problem is not to get Muslims to vote.
They believe the challenge is getting Muslims to understand the issues based on which they decide their vote.
“It is a critical time for Americans and minorities to take part in changing the economy,” agrees Imam Khan.
The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), a public service agency working for the civil rights of American Muslims, is in the process of publishing an election policy guide.
It is compiling information on six major issues: civil rights & national security, health care, Iraq War, US Muslim World Relations, Economy, and Immigration, Safiya Ghori, MPAC Government Relations Director, told IOL.
In the next few months, the Washington-based organization will use the help of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) to distribute the guide nationwide.
“If you’re at least eighteen years of age, there is no excuse not to vote,” said Khalid Al-Erini, a volunteer at ADAMS who regularly registers community members to vote.
Muslim groups are eyeing Muslim voters in battleground states, such as Virginia, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio
Mahdi Bray, executive director of the civic and human rights advocacy group MAS Freedom Foundation, says Muslim organizations are monitoring such states to help Muslims lay out a plan on to whom they will vote and why.
He believes American Muslims could play a crucial part in deciding the outcome of the White House race in these states.
“These areas are extremely close and this is where the Muslim vote could make a big difference.”
Better America
In educating the community about political involvement, the Muslim organizations are not making endorsements.
“We give all candidates equal platform,” said Rafi Ahmed, vice president of the Muslim Association of Virginia (MAV).
“We don’t endorse any party, but we listen to what they have to say about issues that are important to all Americans.”
According to a survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Politics, sixty-three percent of American Muslims are Democrats or leaning in that direction.
Only 11 percent of US Muslims are Republican.
For many voters, the bitter lessons from previous elections are prompting them to make a more informed decision at the polling stations.
“I vote every year,” says Saifullah Khan, a resident of Maryland.
“I vote because I believe my choice of public officials will help to chance US foreign policies overseas,” he adds.
“But the last eight presidential years have been very shocking for me. I pray for a change this time.”
American Muslims have become sensitized to an erosion of their civil rights since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Many believe the economy, the infrastructure and basic services, such as healthcare, have been sidelined for the interest of President George Bush’s so-called war-on-terror.
Muslims want to support officials who have already done an excellent job during their terms and those who are concerned about a better economy and objective foreign policies.
Ahmad Syed, a resident of Northern Virginia, will vote for the good of the bigger American society.
“We need to help to transform the future economy of America or else the coming days will be very difficult for our children.”
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