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Name
Muktar
- United States
Profession
Student
Question
Asalamu Alaykum. Do you think the world will change after the execution of Sadam? How do you also see the victory of the Democrats? will this victory change something about Iraq?
Answer
I don’t think the occupation and the war in Iraq will be greatly affected by the trial of Saddam Hussein. However, I do believe that the current election giving the democrats victory in the congress was a mandate by the American people for ending of the war in Iraq. And there will be tremendous pressure by the Democrats on the President to end the occupation in Iraq.
Name
Tony
- Iraq
Profession
tinker-soldier
Question
I wonder if the new congress can get me out of here. I have been stuck here for a few months and I want to go home so I can go back to school. Thanks.
Answer
I pray to God that you may be to go home and to your school soon. I also pray to God that the new congress will do all what they can to end the war of occupation of Iraq.
Name
Fulah Malarq'ee
- Falkland Island
Profession
Philatelistic Appraiser
Question
Can the Ummah claim its rightful place amongst the nations in defeating the Imperialist mongrels at polling places?
Answer
I never claimed that electorial politics is the be all and the end all solution for the Muslim Ummah. Certainly from Allah we come, to Him we return. Thus the ultimate solution is our trust and devotion to Allah SWT. However, many of the problems that plague the Muslim world are impacted by the foreign policy of US government. Thus the American Muslim population has a responsibility to do what it can to address these policies, engaging in the civic process under the mandate and spiritual imperative of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil. If we as American Muslims through the ballot box remove the troops from Iraq or change the policy in Palestine or cut funding for authorities in Muslim regimes to oppress their own people, it is one small step of many in the right direction. And Allah knows best.
Name
Egfoo Yong
- Hong Kong
Profession
Cruise Ship Purser (3rd Class)
Question
Are you optimistic or pessimistic regarding your country's ability to transfer security obligations to the Iraqi Security Forces or do you believe that there will continuous bloodletting between the Sunni and Shits factions???
Answer
Given the current policy, I am not very optimistic about the sectarian violence in Iraq. In fact, I believe that the current policy and the occupation of Iraq contribute to the sectarian violence in Iraq. I think a better alternative is for the US to leave Iraq and for the bordering Muslim countries to form a coalition with the Iraqi people to resolve the issues in Iraq. I think it is arrogant and racist to assume that Muslims in the Arab and Muslim world cannot find a solution to the crisis in Iraq.
Name
Lady Bernadette Fingers
- Bahamas
Profession
Question
My late husband, Lord Fingers, continually reminded me that we should never overestimate the intelligence of the native populations. What do the iraqi do in such instances?
Answer
I hope I understood your comment correctly. I think that your statement is supporting my early premise which is that it is an arrogant western ethnocentric notion that people in their own countries cannot openly decide what is best for them.
Name
sarah
- Kuwait
Profession
Question
In your view, how important is the election of the first muslim to the house of representatives?
Answer
Certainly it’s a historical event but super reality dictates that one Muslim congressmen cannot solve all the problems facing the Muslims in America. However, similar to the African American population in America we have a sizable amount of numbers in Congress that now protects their interests as a minority group in America. The election of the Muslim congressmen opens the door for future young Muslims in America to be elected to high public offices and remove the stereotype that Muslims cannot be effective leaders of not only Muslims but non-Muslims as well.
Name
iman
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Assalamu-alaikum br mahdi, thank you for your time. how has the mobilization of the muslim vote improved/changed since the last election of 2004?
Answer
There has been a tremendous change within the last two years. The Muslim American Society (MAS), the association that I am associated with, were able to systematically engage the American Muslims for the first time in a new electoral paradigm within the body politics of America. We were able to systematically bring together nationwide the three factors that influence electoral politics: voter registration, voter education, and voter mobilization, which resulted in massive voter turnout and close elections where the Muslims were in large numbers and can make a difference. In fact in Virginia, where there are 60, 000 Muslim voters, we provided 230 Muslim volunteers working 200 election stations making thousands of phone calls to get out the Muslim vote. Our number of Muslim voter contributed to the elections of Senatorial candidate Webb, which gave the Democrats the marginal victory to win the US Senate. Also we are responsible for the election of the first Muslim congressmen in US history, Keith Ellison.
This level of political sophistication and discipline is the example of the Muslim community under the right leadership flexing its political muscle. We at MAS believe that Muslims will no longer be taken for granted in America.
Name
sumayya
- Jordan
Profession
Question
Assalamu-alaikum br Mahdi, i am so excited with the election results, but do you really think there is much of a difference between republicans and democrats when it comes to Muslims and the issues we care about?
Answer
As previously stated, there are some marginal differences especially as it relates to domestic affairs of American Muslims. However, I must concede on foreign policy especially the issue of Palestine. There is not a lot of difference between the two parties. Our brothers and sisters right now in Gaza are being massacred, the entire world is condemning the Israelis for violating international law and the human rights of the Palestinians. Yet with the exception of a few courageous members of Congress, our elective officials say and do nothing. It is the responsibility of the American Muslims community to change that type of indifference; it will not happen overnight, but insha’Allah if we can continue to educate the American people, spend our resources, organize and raise our voices, and empower ourselves for the sake of Allah SWT within our country, we CAN make a difference.
This job of addressing Palestine and changing US policy falls directly the shoulders of the American Muslim community. Per capital we are one of the most highly educated and wealthy communities in America. We have no choice but to utilize what Allah has blessed us with in this country to correct the grave injustice that has been committed against the Palestinian people with US complicity for over half a century.
Name
muneer
- Morocco
Profession
Question
How much attention did muslim groups/communities and their concerns get from candidates campaigning in this election? was this any different from past elections?
Answer
The results will actually be realized when the new Congress comes into session. One of the great concerns of American Muslim communities is the post 9/11 backlash which has resulted in the erosion of American Muslims civil rights and liberties, resulting in religious and racial profiling, secret evidence, unfair detention and deportation, the attack on Muslims charities, and denying of worldly renowned Muslim scholars for entering the US. For six years there have been no congressional investigation or action on these issues. I am confident that when members of Congress like John Conyers, a long time African American civil rights leader who fought with Dr. Martin L. King to change America’s racist policies, becoming the new chairman of congressional Judiciary Committee, that many of these issues will finally be addressed. Although personally I have no partisan preference of a Democrat or Republican, the realities are that the Democrats who have a large minority contingency do better and have responded better to the interests of Muslims on civil liberties and social justice issues.
Name
omar
- Saudi Arabia
Profession
Question
Thank you for the opportunity to ask my question. Do you think the public will ever shake off the powerful Jewish lobby, or are people too afraid of being labelled anti-semitic?
Answer
This is an excellent question. Special interest groups as AIPAC (American Israeli Political Action Committee) has tremendous influence over the US Congress, but it did not happen overnight. They built this institution. Muslims and Arabs have to continue to build institutions that counter this influence. However, I am encouraged that more Americans everyday are questioning this blind strategic alliance with Israel and more and more challenging the fact that US tax dollars fund this type of violence and aggression that we are now witnessing in Gaza, are realizing that it is not anti-Semitic nor are they willing to accept being labeled so by Israeli lobbying groups, to have an honest discourse on whether the current strategic alliance and one-sided foreign policy that we have in the Middle East is in the best interest of America and real peace in the region.
Name
Felicity
- United Kingdom
Profession
Journalist
Question
Greetings,
Since the US and the UK have commited (under the Nuremburg lesgislations)'the supreme crime'of a war of agression against a country who posed them no threat, built on a pack of lies, every US, UK and foreugn soldier i=on Iraq soil can be charged with war crimes.
Thus, will the now dominant democrats have the courage to withdraw them?
Saying Iraq has to be helped until it can stnd on its own feet is patronising rubbish. It was stable and safe till we 'liberated'. If the US puppet government falls, so be it.
Is there the will or courage??
Kindest wishes, Felicity.
Answer
Addressing the latter part of your question, I feel that the criminal invasion and occupation of Iraq is so pervasive that like in Vietnam, if the politicians, be they the Publicans or Democrats do not have the courage to withdraw from this horrendous situation in Iraq, that the American people themselves will take to the streets and demand it. I will remind you that it was not the Congress or the Presidency of the US that stopped the war in Vietnam; it was the PEOPLE.
Name
Ali
-
Profession
Question
What do you expect from the new Muslim representative in the Congress. Is he that committed that will defend the rights of the Muslim community and be the voice for the voiceless.
Answer
Very good question. Keith Ellison is not new to politics. He has served for years as a lawyer and a state legislator, who has taken his faith seriously and has always defended the voiceless and stood for justice. He takes the commands of Allah SWT: “O you who believe, be steadfast in justice,” seriously. And not only will he be a voice for the Muslim community against injustice but he will be a Muslim voice in Congress against injustices against all people, especially the most poor and vulnerable.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Answer
Finally, we would like to thank brother Mahdi Bray for taking the time to answer the questions of Islamonline viewers today, and we also thank all those who participated in this dialogue. We apologize for not being able to accommodate all the questions within the time allocated to this session. If you feel your question is very important, feel free to contact us at EngLivedialogue@islamonline.net and we will try our best to answer your question. We encourage our readers to join us in upcoming sessions.
