Muslim Perspective On Today’s World Situation

[Bilal Mahmud المكافح المخلص]

Politicians Not Welcome Here

November 2023

18 Rabi II, 1445 A.H. 

To: American Masajid, Islamic Centers, Scholars, and other Islamic institutions in the United States

“O believers! Stand firm for justice as witnesses for Allah even if it is against yourselves, your parents, or close relatives. Be they rich or poor, Allah is best to ensure their interests. So do not let your desires cause you to deviate ˹from justice˺. If you distort the testimony or refuse to give it, then ˹know that˺ Allah is certainly All-Aware of what you do.” 4:135 

Assalamu Alaikum,

We write to you today with a heavy heart and a deep sense of disillusionment. Our aim is to highlight how our community leaders have sacrificed our dignity and the pursuit of justice for the PR stunts of politicians. For decades, Muslim leaders have invited elected officials and political candidates into our sacred community spaces without community consent. We have opened our doors for individuals who consistently use their positions of power and our tax dollars to actively harm our communities both at home and abroad. We have allowed the Muslim community to be tokenized and used for these leaders’ political gain, while receiving nothing in return for the platforms we have given to them. Given this long history of failed bridge building and the urgency of the current moment, we cannot, in good conscience, continue to invite public officials who are complicit in the ongoing violence against Palestinians into our spiritual homes.

For the past several weeks, we have witnessed our Palestinian brothers, sisters, and children in Gaza be subjected to the most horrendous war crimes. Israel has committed these atrocities with impunity, while American politicians have declared unwavering support for Israel, increased the funding and weapons they are providing to Israel to carry out their massacres, and have condemned those that support Palestinians as terrorists. Our politicians have ignored, spoken over, and attempted to silence us, rendering those that speak out against these atrocities vulnerable to a variety of punitive consequences that threaten our livelihoods as citizens of the United States.

The US government’s relentless support of the genocide in Palestine is just one example that demonstrates that our elected officials do not represent us when we need them the most. They have failed the Muslim-American community by engaging in dangerous and inflammatory anti-Palestinian propaganda as an attempt to justify the violence inflicted upon the Palestinian people abroad. The tragic murder of 6 year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume, who was murdered for being Muslim and Palestinian, is a direct result of their actions. If we fail to hold these leaders to account, Islamophobia will continue to rise and have deadly consequences both domestically and abroad. 

In the United States, elected officials are supposed to represent the needs, concerns, and interests of their constituents. With this duty of service in mind, we are demanding that leaders of masaajid, Islamic centers and community organizations, and educational institutions no longer welcome politicians into our community spaces until they publically condemn this ongoing genocide, pledge to vote no on any resolutions supporting the apartheid state of Israel, and vow to support a peaceful ending to the occupation of Palestine.

We urge you to take action by committing to: 

1. Never again focusing our engagement efforts on seeking the acceptance and approval of politicians who unequivocally support the massacre of our people;

2. Prohibiting politicians whose policies support and promote ethnic cleansing from using our sacred community spaces as a platform; and

3. Never again compromising the sanctity of our spaces by wavering on our community's position on Palestine.

We will no longer accept their empty promises, nor will we allow them to sacrifice our community’s needs and safety for a mere photo opportunity during election season. If political leaders wish to connect with and receive support from our communities, they must first demonstrate a tangible commitment to us and our people both locally and globally. The Muslim-American community wants peace, safety, freedom, and justice for the Palestinian people. If politicians wish to truly represent us, they must reflect that representation in more than just empty platitudes. 

With elections on the horizon, we must recognize that our community has the numbers and the resources to demand more of our leaders. We must never again allow our communities to be disrespected and our support taken for granted. We must always remember that our elected officials need us; it is our responsibility to elevate the needs of our community and it is their responsibility to respond accordingly. We must hold these politicians accountable, especially when the very lives of our brothers and sisters in Palestine hang in the balance. 

In unity and unwavering determination,

OPOW, Abu Ruyaa,

Executive Director of Oppressed Peoples Online Word

Hadiya Afzal, Organizer

Amal Mir, Juris Doctor candidate

Asiya Cummings, Student Doctor

Ahlam Taha, Teacher

Adnan M., Software Engineer

Tasnim Saiduzzaman, Engineer

Nus H, Epidemiologist

Danish Majid, Medical student

Rula Thabata, Law student

Abdel Thabata, Banker

Amatullah Mir, Engineer; UChicago Alum

Sana, Registered nurse

Sarah K, Engineer

Afraz Khan, Muslim community member

Laith Shalabi, Juris-doctorate candidate

Haddy Gassama, Attorney

Sabrin Hilal, Muslim community member

Sameria Ramadan, IT technician 

Berjamin Beituni

Alshayma Awwad, Nursing student

Nancy Jawdat, Health care

ML Kejera, Author

Mona Askar, Muslim community member

Kaif Gilani, Writer

Nevien Abuzir, Administrative assistant

Jeanine Askar, Educator

Fatimah Amara, CEO

Lina Ayesh, Teacher

Samia Abdi, Software engineer

Sanah Abdelfattah, Respiratory care practitioner

Ayeshah Rashid, Artist

Siham Abdi, Software Engineer

Sophia Hasan-Yasin, Project/Service Manager

Nadia Joudeh, Educator

Shoaib J., Software Engineer

Isra Rahman, Journalist

Olfat Hweih, Student

Samra Zvizdic, Clinical Pharmacist

Noor H., Organizer

Makkah Ali, Community Member

Rida Zaidi, DePaul Alum, Paralegal

Saad A., Engineer

Amal Ali, Radiology technologist

Lauren Schreiber, Executive Director/ Chaplain (Center DC)

Khitam Abuzerr

Nadim Sulaiman Ali, Imam (Community Masjid of Atlanta)

Maryam Kashani, Artist & Professor

[Bilal Mahmud المكافح المخلص]

Kofi Bilal Mahmud Eid AlFitr 1443 A.H.

http://oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com/profiles/blogs/6273430:B...

Kofi Bilal Mahmud

Executive Director

Oppressed Peoples Online Word 

Your Voice Since 2010

The Voice Of The Voiceless...A People Without A Voice Can Not Be Heard!

Periodically we at OPOW have to make an evaluation on our being able to sustain this effort of bringing  you stories that many of you enjoy.  We do not take adds, nor do we charge a subscription.  Much or most of our operating expense is covered by a few individuals who have been very generous over the past 13 years.

Much of our content is supplied by volunteers and myself.   With that being said, we need your support to continue this effort.  No amount is too small or too large.  Please consider becoming a much needed supporter of OPOW today.  In advance, from all of us at OPOW,  we thank you for your continued support.  

Bilal Mahmud

Executive Director OPOW

Support OPOW:  OPOW Needs Your Support - Oppressed Peoples Online Word...The Voice...

The Voice Of The Voiceless... A People Without A Voice Can Not Be Heard...

Paypal: [e-mail]

Or Cashapp: $bilal1370

Zelle: [e-mail]

Mail: Little Deep Creek LLC
P.O. Box 1241
Conley, Ga. 30288

Support OPOW Today...An Appeal From The Executive Director Bilal Ma...

Thank you from all of us here at OPOW

Visit Us On Facebook:  (2) Facebook