Muslims Charge Batteries For Election Day

"Our organization had started preparations for this election a year before," Qatami told IOL.

"Our organization had started preparations for this election a year before, and we are engaging actively the Muslim community in the process of this election," Laila al-Qatami, Communications and Cultural Director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), told IslamOnline.net.

"We are not only encouraging them to register themselves for vote but also helping them create forums where they can express their views regarding the presidential candidates."

Qatami believes that this presidential election is of a particular importance in American history, as it would evidently bring a big change.

The ADC, the largest Arab-American civil rights organization in the US, has established "Voter Protection Units" which may assist Muslims cast their votes without any fear of turning them away.

Qatami recalls that the 2004 presidential election had seen some incidents of harassment against Muslim voters.

She notes that the majority of Muslims are very enthusiastic about this election.

"The AMV Foundation has been working actively to mobilize the Muslim community by registering and educating voters," Faheem said.

"[It] will bring change for all Americans and the entire world," Ms. Samina Faheem Sundas, founder and executive director of the American Muslim Voice (AMV), told IOL.

"This will be a better change of hope and justice, and after all a better America.

"The AMV Foundation has been working actively to mobilize the Muslim community by registering and educating voters."

The AMV has been working actively to mobilized the Muslim community for vote registration and educating Muslims to use their votes wisely.

On November 4, it will be making phone calls to Muslims to remind them of casting their votes on time.

The group will also be providing free ride to people who don't have their conveyance to reach the polling stations.

"We are urging Muslims Americans and our diverse coalition members to make their choices wisely by learning the issues our country is faced with, like economy, education, health care, immigration, environment, homelessness, housing and being Muslims off course the protection of civil and human rights."

Influential

Khan is confident that the Muslim vote will be very important in the three battleground states of Florida, Ohio and Missouri. (IOL Photo)

The Muslim American Society (MAS), another religious and socio- cultural organization, has been working on Muslim political engagement since the 2004 elections.

Ibrahim Ramey, its human rights director, said they have been striving to work in three major areas: encouraging Muslims to register in voting lists, educating them on real issues, and mobilizing them on election day to vote and volunteer in bringing other people to the polling stations.

MAS will be making phone calls to remind voters to cast their ballot on time and to the proper candidate.

Of late, the Muslim community was least interested in the elections.

In the mainstream politics, they counted themselves only in 2000 when they overwhelmingly voted for George W. Bush.

Today, Muslim citizens are very enthusiastic to vote.

It is expected that in several swing states like Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia, where Muslims have sizable populations, they will be making a big difference.

MAS's believes that almost in all 12 battleground states the Muslim votes will be of great significance.

M Ali Khan, the national director of the American Muslim Council (AMC), a political movement for the civil rights and justice for all Muslim Americans, agrees.

He is confident that particularly in the three tough battleground states of Florida, Ohio and Missouri, the Muslim vote will count.

Khan believes that if American Muslims are politically educated, they themselves can bring a big change.

His organization is actively helping Muslims to register and cast their votes on Election Day.

Obama/McCain

Ramey expects most Muslims to vote for Obama. (IOL Photo)

Qatami says that her American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee is endorsing any presidential candidate.

Yet, she feels that the majority of Muslims will be voting for Obama.

American Muslim Voice's Ms. Samina shares the same position.

Being a non-partisan organization, they have not endorsed any candidate but individually they prefer Obama.

Samina thinks his diverse background will be of great help for understanding the problems of immigrant Muslims and safeguarding their civil liberties.

"Obama's victory would mean a better America for all Americans including Muslim Americans.

"Hopefully it would also mean a peaceful world where all of us could be treated equally. This is history in the making but the real change would take a long time and all of us should be committed to make it happen."

Ramey of the Muslim American Society says that from his regular interaction with the community he expects 80-90 percent of Muslims to vote for Obama.

He hopes the Democratic candidate, aspiring to become America's first every black president, will win and introduce a big change.

Ramey is optimistic that the new set-up would shut down the notorious Guantanamo detention center, bring the unpopular Iraq war to an end, ban torture practices and allow adequate legal representation in courts.

He says that though Senator John McCain's chances of winning are thin, Muslims should not be frustrated if he does.

The activist advises the Muslim community to engage in an active political dialogue with both major parties in order to make their voice heard.

Although the  majority of Muslims are expected to vote for Obama, McCain remain a favorite choice for others.

Jamil Ahmad, a 23-year-old of Pakistani origin, would be voting for Republican McCain.

He fears Obama, if elected, would attack his home country Pakistan in its hot pursuit against Al-Qaeda.

Zainab, a 34-year-old of Saudi origin, believes that Republicans are closer to Muslims in their traditions and values.

She cites the Republican stances on issues like abortion and homosexuality, which Muslims vehemently oppose.

That's why Zainab will be casting her vote for McCain.

Naeem-ullah, a 45-year-old Afghan American, has a totally different viewpoint and will not voting for any of them.

He insists that neither McCain nor Obama has a solution to bring peace to his war-ravaged homeland.