Organizers hope to engage Muslims in the political process

By David Shelby
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- American Muslim groups hope to benefit from the coming Eid Al-Adha holidays to rally Muslim voters for this year's U.S. elections. Mosques and Islamic centers across the country are planning voter registration drives in conjunction with the holiday activities.

"Active political participation by American Muslims is no longer an option, it is a necessity," said Omar Ahmad, chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

He added, "It is only through the power of the vote that Muslims will have their concerns addressed by political candidates and elected representatives."

CAIR is spearheading the voter registration drive on the national level.

Hasan Mansori, who is coordinating CAIR's national efforts, said, "It is increasingly important for Muslims to engage in their civic responsibilities. Muslims are more concerned than ever about respect for their civil liberties, and we need to look more deeply at who the candidates are and what they stand for."

Mansori indicated that local Muslim groups have been very receptive to CAIR's initiative. He noted that all 25 of the group's local chapters had embraced the idea and were sponsoring at least three to four voter registration drives in their local communities during the holidays. Eid Al-Adha is the Muslim holiday that follows the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to the Muslim holy sites of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. This year Eid Al-Adha falls on Februrary 1-3.

Celena Khatib from CAIR Michigan has been organizing voter registration tables at mosques during Friday prayers for several weeks leading up to the Eid holidays and reports that "people have been very enthusiastic and helpful in advertising for the drive."

Khatib added that people at the local level have been very excited about recruiting volunteers to man the sign-up tables.

Typically, volunteers give registration cards to people before the prayers and collect them afterward to send them to the election officials. Khatib said that people appreciate this convenience. "Many adults have been bringing their kids who just turned 18 and making them register," she said.

Khatib said that she expects particularly large turnouts for Eid prayers this year since the holiday falls on a Sunday when most people do not have to work.

Mansori also said that CAIR is working with other Muslim organizations in the outreach effort.

He explained, "We are focusing on Eid because it is a time when Muslims all come together, and when we get everyone together, it is a good opportunity to get the message across."

He said that mosques are typically filled to capacity during Eid prayers and that many mosques have to use temporary outdoor facilities to handle the overflow crowds.

CAIR is suggesting that Imams use part of their Eid sermons to encourage community members to register to vote.

"Coming together on Eid is a chance to encourage people to participate in the political process," Mansori said.

American Islamic Centers often plan special dinners and celebrations in conjunction with the Eid holidays. Khatib indicated that CAIR is looking at ways they could integrate their registration drive into these special events as well.

Mansori said "This is the first real push for Muslims to get registered to vote."

"During the 2000 election, we were still testing the water and getting our feet wet," he explained. "Now we are much better organized and able to pursue efforts on the grassroots level."

He recalled that during the 2000 elections, certain Muslim groups worked to organize Muslims into a national bloc vote behind the candidacy of George W. Bush. This time, however, Muslim groups are encouraging individual voters to take a greater personal initiative in exploring the issues and engaging the candidates.

CAIR is encouraging local Muslim organizations to invite local candidates and representatives from the national campaigns to address their groups. The organization suggests that such visits could even be planned as part of the Eid festivities.

Khatib said that the next major task is to get the registered voters mobilized to vote.

CAIR offers several reasons why Muslims should vote. These include supporting accommodation of Islamic religious requirements in the workplace and in schools, creating a safe drug-free environment for families, challenging discrimination and stereotyping, encouraging foreign and domestic policies that are based on justice, and influencing how tax dollars are spent.

Khatib said that her group had been publicizing information about Michigan's electoral laws which allow voters to participate in the party caucuses via the internet and mail.

"We're trying to let people know that they don't even have to go out into the cold and snow. They don't have to leave the comfort of their own homes," she said. "Hopefully the efforts will pay off, and we can get people mobilized to vote."

All U.S. citizens age 18 or over by the date of the election are eligible to register to vote.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)