Muslims in
the Mid-term Elections 2006
By Dr. Ghulam M. Haniff
St. Cloud, MN
As
the mid-term elections draw closer Muslims are
beginning to show signs of reinvigorated interest
in becoming involved in the political process.
The community had become disengaged from civic
matters, no doubt, due to relentless media attacks
and the lack of an overall strategy for the pursuit
of tangible goals.
Beginning last fall voter registration drives
have been conducted with considerable enthusiasm.
That activity has become even more vigorous this
year with political information being disseminated
at many gatherings. The Muslim American Society’s
Freedom Foundation has fanned out nationwide and
set up voter registration desks at 150 mosques
located in critical voting constituencies where
Muslim votes could make a difference.
MAS Freedom Foundation, currently the major Muslim
organization active at the national level, is
attempting to mobilize an estimated 2.2 million
Muslim voters from coast to coast. During the
past few months this body has held several highly
publicized press conferences including one at
the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
At its regional meetings and fundraisers CAIR
has also conducted voter registration and provided
information to potential voters. In fact, CAIR
has been involved in continuing civic education
through its many activities. From its headquarters
in Los Angeles MPAC has also been engaged in political
education and serves as an advocate for political
involvement. The AMA pursues a similar strategy
on the west coast.
As Muslim communities mature they become involved
in building relationships with their Congressional
representatives and Senators. At the local level
they are becoming connected with political leaders
such as those in Los Angeles with the mayor and
in California with the governor. Sometimes building
these relationships have been painful but in the
end have led to tangible results.
In another arena Muslims are increasingly participating
in interfaith dialogues and are beginning to open
up a large area of support for their concerns.
At the same time they are actively building coalitions
with groups on the margins of the political mainstream
such as the Latino, Black and Asian communities.
An occasional Muslim continues to appear on the
ballots for electoral offices at the local level
that includes city councils, school boards, library
boards and other electives offices.
One such person recently whose name appeared on
the ballot was Farheen Hakeem. She ran for the
position of the mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota,
in the fall of 2005. She is a very articulate
Muslim woman who wears the traditional hijab.
Running on the Green Party ticket she obtained
14 percent of the total votes, the highest ever
for a third party. Needless to say, she did not
win but did set a record of sorts.
Earlier this year another Muslim candidate emerged
to run for a public office, this time, at the
national level. This candidate, Keith Ellison,
received the endorsement of the Minnesota’s
Democratic Party (known locally as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Party or DFL) at their spring convention. He had
thrown his hat in the ring for the congressional
seat being vacated by retiring Congressman Martin
O. Sabo.
Owing to his experience in the Minnesota House
and the fact that he was a party-endorsee, Ellison
had no rivals until the primaries drew closer.
In the primary election he had to face three challengers
with the main rival being the head of the legislative
staff of the retiring congressman.
Despite these contestants for the coveted position
Ellison emerged victorious with a ten percent
lead over the candidate in the second place. Keith
Ellison, therefore, became the Democratic choice
to run for the US Congress from Minnesota’s
fifth congressional district.
Even though the number of Muslims in Minnesota
is rather small the activists in the community
have relentlessly conducted voter education for
over a decade. At the beginning of each academic
year voter registration desks are set up at several
Islamic centers to encourage Muslims to become
involved in politics by registering to vote.
Most Muslims do not understand the workings of
the American political system. Through the efforts
of the American Muslim Council of Minnesota, local
centers and several activists, seminars and workshops
have been offered on a regular basis. On occasion
these have been coupled with special events thus
ensuring larger attendance outreach.
At the fundraiser for Keith Ellison substantial
number of people showed up contributing over fifty
thousand dollars in less than an hour. Muslims
also organized fundraisers for several other candidates
for the Congress, including Betty McCollum who
introduced a resolution on the Palestinians last
year.
Regular meetings with members of Minnesota’s
congressional delegation have now become the norm
for the Muslims. They are also involved to a greater
degree on political campaigns of candidates seeking
elective offices.
A number of Minnesota Muslims are working as volunteers
on the Ellison campaign. They have gone out distributing
literature, making telephone calls, door-knocking
and putting up yard signs. These activities will
continue until the day of the election in early
November. By now the Muslim community has come
to understand that the lifeblood of American politics
is money and votes. Having gotten their feet wet
in the political process the members of the Islamic
community are hoping for a victory with America’s
first Muslim Congressman being elected from Minnesota.
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