AMA and MPAC Pledge Greater
Cooperation
Los Angeles: Two major Muslims organizations
have agreed to increase their cooperation in the area of electoral
politics. The American Muslim Alliance (AMA) and the Muslim
Public Affairs Council (MPAC) have agreed to work together
to educate, organize and galvanize the American Muslim community
for more effective participation in the mainstream American
politics.
“The main goal is to develop a maximal electoral strategy
and to provide a roadmap to the community,” AMA President
Dr. Yahya Basha said.
Both organizations will coordinate their activities in the
areas of civic education, leadership training, and identification
of potential candidates. During the 2006 election cycle, both
organizations will hold joint Town Hall Meetings to inform
and involve the community.
“This is an important
step toward building a multi-institutional democratic decision-making
system,” Senior MPAC Advisor Dr. Maher Hathout said.
“The era of one or few individuals making decisions
on behalf of the entire community and seeking private access
is over.”
The American Muslim Alliance (AMA) has 101 chapters nationwide
and it has recently opened a regional office in New York.
The AMA is primarily focused on electoral politics.
The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) has offices on both
East and West coasts. It is primarily focused on policy development
and media outreach.
“Our community needs at least two years to plan and
execute an effective election strategy. This accord obliges
us to start our work here and now. It shows that we are serious
in pursuing our electoral goals,” MAPC Executive Director
Salam Al-Maryati said.
Both groups are affiliated with the American Muslim Taskforce
for Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), an umbrella organization
representing 11 major Muslim organizations.
“This accord is an amplification of the spirit of the
AMT Charter which encourages bi-lateral as well as multi-lateral
cooperation among Muslim organizations,” AMT Chair Dr.
Agha Saeed said.
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