Nawash during his election campaign

STERLING, Virginia, November 8 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The number of U.S. Muslims opting for more active political participation has begun to pick up after a considerable drop in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on Washington and New York, reported a leading U.S. newspaper Friday, November 7.

Singling an upward trajectory, two more Muslim candidates ran for office in Virginia this year than five years before - and two more than 10 years ago, The Christian Science Monitor said.

Although Afeefa Syeed, a private-school principal of Kashmiri origin, and Kamal Nawash, an immigration lawyer who was born in Palestine, lost the local elections race, the fact that they vied outweighs the disappointing results.

Mukit Hossain, a Bangladeshi-American businessman and the director of the Platform for Active Civil Empowerment (PACE), said it is high time for Muslims in the U.S. "to stop shying away from the political process."

"The way to advance our agenda is in the traditional American way: by gaining more political power," he told the daily.

The decision to start PACE came in the wake of raids by federal officials on Muslim organizations and families in Virginia last year.

"That was when I realized if we want to have a voice in government, we have to speak up early on. We can't wait until someone comes knocking on the door, to look for a voice," Hossain stressed.

'Interests First, Foremost' 

But Hossain said his political action committee is totally behind those candidates, who are qualified enough to promote Muslims' interests in the U.S., even if they were non-Muslims.

He added that PACE endorsed Mrs. Syeed, but decided not to endorse Nawash, preferring his opponent, a non-Muslim.

"We want to promote our interests, but we gain credibility by endorsing those best qualified to represent us - whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims…Our issues are local first and foremost," Hossain explained.

Mrs. Syeed, who lost to Republican Bruce Tulloch by 1,116 votes, ran on a purely local platform, rarely making reference to her religion.

"I don't need to. I am clearly a Muslim and that speaks for itself. I need to explain what I want to do for the community," she told the Monitor.

"Muslims are mainly coming to a crossroads where we realize that community issues are our issues.

"The Middle East is important, but not as important to us here as urban sprawl. This is my home. The place where I am raising my children," she said.

"I want to make that clear, and I think it's important for non-Muslims to see me making that clear."

"We are all foreigners here," says Santo Mirabile, an Italian-American who has been living in Virginia for more than 30 years.

"I'm glad to see Muslims participating. That's what is good about America."

Muslim Americans first began running for office in sizable numbers only in the 1990s.

By the time elections rolled around in 2000, close to 700 U.S. Muslims were candidates for a variety of offices.

That year, 153 Muslims - split almost equally between African-Americans and immigrants - were elected, including four to state senates and assemblies.

Hossain hoped that the number of Muslims entering the political scene would  increase in years to come.

"Maybe three. Maybe four. This is the beginning of better things," he added.