American Muslims 18 years after 9/11 – Page 4
Muslims Celebrate Congressional Victories
An exuberant crowd celebrated the victories of the first female Muslim members of Congress, Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), at a Jan. 10 reception hosted by the national office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) at Arlington, VA’s Hyatt Crystal City Hotel.
Fellow Muslim Rep. André Carson (D-IN), in office since 2008, was also in attendance.
“Our young women are now believing that their place is on the House floor, that their place is in the White House, that their place is serving others,” said Tlaib, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants.
“I don’t want us to be silent when the president of the United States calls Mexicans ‘rapists.' Don’t wait until he comes after us. Speak up now. We are all in the same element of fighting against racism and bigotry.” “I am delighted at this particular time in our nation’s history for there to be two unapologetic, unbought progressive leaders from the Muslim community who are women representing us in Congress,”
Omar told the enthusiastic audience of some 500 guests. “By our sheer presence in Congress, we say as Muslim women that we are in charge of our lives and our destiny. We decide where and how we show up.” Carson praised the qualities of Tlaib and Omar.
“Rashida and Ilhan are fighters,” he enthused. “They are smart, powerful, ready; they represent the next generation of Democratic leaders. And each and every one of you should be proud at this moment. We have fire power in Congress.”
Omar and Tlaib both ran progressive campaigns, focusing on issues such as immigration, keeping families together, racial and social justice, affordable health care and education. “These political leaders managed to galvanize the hopes and aspirations of people, and are now public servants who happen to be proud American Muslims,” noted CAIR national executive director Nihad Awad.
Meanwhile, New Mexico sworn in its first Muslim American lawmaker in state history.
Rep. Abbas Akhil, an Albuquerque Democrat, took the oath of office Tuesday after winning a close race to represent southeast Albuquerque. Akhil is an immigrant from India and an active member of the Islamic Center of New Mexico in Albuquerque. He defeated Republican State Rep. Jim Dines.
Republican Congressman warns against growing influence of Islam in Democratic Party
In November 2018 midterm election, 78% of Muslim voters primarily voted for the Democratic Party candidates and 17% for Republican Party candidates.
Not surprisingly, Rep. (Republican) Mo Brooks claims that the "growing influence" of Islam in the Democratic Party will eventually lead to the party becoming "very strongly anti-Jewish and anti-Israel."
During an appearance on "The Jeff Poor Show" on Alabama's WVNN radio, Mo Brooks said: "Keep in mind – Muslims, more so than most people, have great animosity towards Israel and the Jewish faith," Brooks noted.
While Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib are the first Muslim women elected to Congress, they joined Andre Carson, a Muslim Democrat from Indiana, in the House, bringing the number of Muslims in the Congress to three.
"I think you’re going to see this influence in the Democratic Party grow and grow and grow over time but ultimately become the dominant influence within the Democratic Party, where the Democratic Party will become very strongly anti-Jewish and anti-Israel," Mo Brooks concluded.
Texas Republicans try to oust GOP County leader because he is Muslim
In January, the Tarrant County (Texas) Republican Party officials tried to remove a Texas county GOP leader from his post because he is Muslim. The Tarrant County Republican Party voted to keep Dr. Shahid Shafi in his post as vice chairman with 139 for and 49 against votes.
Mike Snyder of the Tarrant County Republican Party said, "tonight's vote demonstrates the majority of Republicans in Tarrant County stands with Dr. Shahid Shafi. And on the firm foundation of religious freedom memorialized in the Declaration of Independence." Following the vote, Shafi said, "our union is a little more perfect today.
Dr. Shafi was appointed in July. His ratification received near unanimous support from the group's executive committee. The lone dissenter, however, created a small group that brought forth a motion to oust Shafi. Sources within the party say the dissenter is Dorrie O'Brien, who has been outspoken on Facebook about her concerns about Shafi's religion.
Meanwhile, it was reported on September 4, that most of Minnesota’s aggressively negative news about Muslims is produced by a group of Twin Cities donors, policy wonks, and strategists tied to the state’s most powerful Republican organizations, Center of the American Experiment, (which called Islam a religion of “crazed, sadistic violence”) and the anti-Muslim Freedom Club. Democrat Rep. Ilham Omar is elected from Minnesota.
District Judge strikes down Texas anti-Israeli boycott law
Judge Pitman of the Western District of Texas in April issued a 56-page opinion striking down H.B. 89, the Texas Anti-BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) Act, as facially unconstitutional. The Court held that the Texas Anti-BDS Act “threatens to suppress unpopular ideas” and “manipulate the public debate” on Israel and Palestine “through coercion rather than persuasion.”
The Court concluded: “This the First Amendment does not allow.” Every single “No Boycott of Israel” clause in every single state contact in Texas has today been stricken as unconstitutional. The Attorney General of Texas is no longer permitted to include or enforce “No Boycott of Israel” clauses in any state contract.
Judge Pitman’s order came in response to a lawsuit filed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), on behalf of Bahia Amawi, a Texas speech language pathologist who lost her job because she refused to sign a “No Boycott of Israel” clause.
In September 2018, a federal court blocked Arizona from enforcing its anti-boycott law, finding that the law likely violates the First Amendment.
A federal court also issued a preliminary injunction against Kansas' enforcement of its anti-boycott law. In January 2018, issuing the first decision of its kind, a federal judge blocked enforcement of a Kansas law targeting boycotts of Israel, ruling in an ACLU lawsuit that the First Amendment protects the right to engage in political boycotts.
Senate Passage of Anti-BDS Bill condemned
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, in February condemned the U.S. Senate’s adoption of the misleadingly titled “Strengthening Americaﾒs Security in the Middle East Act” (Senate Bill 1), an anti-BDS bill that would provide federal protection to states that pass laws penalizing Americans who participate in political boycotts aimed at Israel and its illegal settlements in occupied territories. It passed 77 to 23.
“It is a shame that the U.S. Senate would pass such an unconstitutional bill that violates the First Amendment right of all Americans to challenge the illegal and discriminatory actions of a foreign government and goes against the principles of free speech on which our country was founded,” said CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw.
“CAIR urges all members of the House who support free speech to oppose and remove the anti-BDS provisions of Senate Bill 1.”
McCaw noted that the bill would make Israel the only country in the world, including the United States itself, that it is illegal to boycott.
Senate Bill 1, which includes an anti-BDS law, would provide federal protection to states that pass laws penalizing Americans who participate in political boycotts aimed at Israel and its illegal settlements in occupied territories.
It also confirms $38 billion in military assistance to Israel over the next 10 years and extends the U.S.-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act.
There are currently 26 states with anti-BDS laws already on the books. The two federal courts that have ruled on these laws in Arizona and Kansas have both declared them unconstitutional and in violation of the First Amendment.
[NOTE: BDS refers to Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions in support of Palestinian human rights.]
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Executive Editor: Abdus Sattar Ghazali
