US Muslim Tips for Obama Muslim Speech

“It is imperative that your positive statements now be backed up with concrete policy initiatives,” Awad told Obama in the letter.

“Your statements since the inauguration have raised the level of hope for real change in our nation’s foreign and domestic policies,” Nihad Awad, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), says in the letter.

“It is imperative that your positive statements now be backed up with concrete policy initiatives that will help move us all toward a more peaceful and prosperous future.”

Obama will arrive in Egypt, home to Al-Azhar, the highest seat of learning in the Sunni Muslim world, on June 4, to address the US-Muslim relations, in his latest effort to repair the strained US relations with the Muslim world.

But Awad says in the letter that Muslims will be looking forward for Obama to back his statement with an action plan.

“Otherwise, we as a nation risk wasting the good will that has been garnered by your ongoing outreach to Muslims.”

CAIR advises Obama first to champion political and religious freedom, human rights and democratic institutions in the Muslim world.

“For too long, we have claimed to be champions of freedom and democracy, while turning a blind eye to repression, occupation and authoritarian rule,” Awad laments.

Also, the US should do what is necessary to support the Palestinian cause, the main source of anti-American feeling in the Muslim world.

“Now is the time to tell Israeli leaders that we will no longer support the denial of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and that we will take concrete actions to back up that declaration,” affirms the CAIR leader.

Not only the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, other conflicts in the Muslim world should be solved, but not in the militarized way that has directly hurt the Muslim-US ties. 

“We should address the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan based on a reduction in our nation’s intervention.”

America's relations with the Muslim and Arab world hit all-time low under Obama's predecessor George W. Bush over his so-called "war on terror", which saw the invasion of two Muslim countries; Afghanistan and Iraq.

Home Too 

According to the Muslim civil rights group, the American Muslim community also needs to be included in Obama’s outreach action plan. 

“Our nation’s elected representatives, religious leaders, commentators, and citizens of all faiths must speak out forcefully against the rising level of anti-Muslim rhetoric and discrimination in our society.”

Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, Muslims in the US, estimated between six to seven million, have complained of facing discrimination and stereotypes because of their Islamic attires or identities.

“Prior to the 9/11 attacks, Islamophobia of the type we see today was at the margins of public discourse,” the letter asserts.

“Today it is quite common to see and hear the faith of Islam denigrated in newspaper columns, on talk radio and in religious sermons nationwide.”

Moreover, Muslims have become sensitized to the erosion of their civil rights by the Bush administration in the name of national security.

The letter goes on counting to the US president some of the legislations and policies that has targeted the community, from surveillance to closing Muslim charities, FBI spying on mosques and politicized “terror” trials.  

Awad says that Obama must take swiftly steps at home to restore US Muslims civil liberties.

“Any legislation or government policies that diminish constitutional rights must be re-evaluated and reversed,” he asserts in the letter.

“Silence on this growing phenomenon is un-American and betrays the values of inclusiveness and religious tolerance that we all hold dear.”

The letter concludes that addressing Muslim sentiment at home would also turn fruitful worldwide.

“Few in the Muslim world will listen to our calls for openness and reform while the faith they hold dear is being vilified.”