Muslim Luncheon Explores US Tolerance

Dubai Initiative Fellow Karam Dana and coprincipal investigator of the Muslim American Public Opinion Survey is quoted in OnIslam News about civic and political participation of Muslim Americans.

By: OnIslam & News Agencies

WASHINGTON – Debating religious tolerance and freedoms, American Muslims have invited a host of politicians, lawmakers and rights activists to discuss rights of the sizable minority and explore their political engagement.

"It just happened to be the right subject for the right moment," Mohamed Younes, the president of the American Muslim Union, told NorthJersey website on Monday, March 28.

A host of lawmakers, politicians and state officials attended on Sunday the Union’s annual luncheon hosted by Muslim leaders in Teaneck, a township in New Jersey.

The attendees, who included Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan, state Sen. Brian Stack, Sen. John Girgenti and US Attorney Paul Fishman, discussed religious freedoms and tolerance.

"With the wave of hate speech we hear too much these days, I hope it does not destroy the fabric of our nation and to turn one American against the other," said Younes.

"We need to put the doubt behind us for good in order to participate and to contribute with the well-being of America, our homeland."

American Muslims, estimated at between six to eight million, have been in the eye of storm since the 9/11 attacks.

The anti-Muslim frenzy has grown recently over plans to build a mosque near the 9/11 site in New York, resulting in attacks on Muslims and their property and an increase in anti-Muslim hate speech.

A Republican Senator stirred uproar earlier this month over holding a probe into what he called “radicalization” of American Muslims.

Peter King, the chairman of the US House of Representatives’ Homeland Security Committee, claims that US Muslims are being radicalized by Al-Qaeda operatives, accusing Muslim leaders of not cooperating with law enforcement authorities in fighting terrorism.

Worse still, lawmakers in at least 13 states have introduced proposals to ban Shari`ah.

Tolerance

The Muslim luncheon won plaudits from attendees.

“It is important for us to grow understanding with one another and to continue the dialogue," said Sen. Loretta Weinberg.

Focusing on the importance of religious tolerance in the United States, Ambassador Youssef Zada of the Egyptian Consulate recalled images from Egypt’s Tahrir Square, where Muslims and Christians protected each other during prayers.

Some attendees were critical of the anti-radicalization hearing for worries of sparking backlash against American Muslims.

"These hearings are just the most recent example of a troubling pattern of unwarranted scrutiny on American Muslims," said Deborah Jacobs, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey.

Jacobs regretted the fact that the oppressed Muslims will bear the burdens of defending their image in the American community.

"It falls on you to redefine American Muslims in the eyes of the public."

Some of the attendees used the event to explore the Muslim political role.

Karam Dana, a keynote speaker, said Muslims who regularly attend events at their mosques in addition to daily prayers are more likely to be involved in politics and their communities.

A survey conducted by Dana showed that 30 percent of Muslims did not associate with a political party, which is higher than other ethnic groups.

"Empirical data show that Muslims are great citizens, they participate more in American politics when they attend the mosque, so mosques are no different from a Catholic church, a synagogue, in my opinion," said Dana, a faculty member at Tufts University and a post-doctoral fellow at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University.

"If we honor our own individual identities and respect our differences we will continue to make this a great country."

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