Speaking to The Guardian about the recent uptick of anti-Muslim sentiment hitting the country, often attributed to the current political climate, Muslim Congressman André Carson says that he sees a silver lining for the American Muslim communities. “And that silver lining suggests an increase in interest in American political life.”
In an informal survey, the Guardian reports that at least 14 American Muslims currently hold public office, with New Jersey leading the way. In the wake of the Muslim Travel Ban, advocacy group Jetpac launched a campaign to encourage Muslims to run for local office and assume a more active role in community organizing.
The Guardian provides a sampling of Muslim candidates running for office (or already there):
Deedra Abboud, US Senate candidate for Arizona
In Arizona, Deedra Abboud, an attorney and community leader, recently announced a run for the US senate in the 2018 midterm elections. The candidate recently wrote: “It is true that Muslims in America are facing a tidal wave of discrimination, flowing forth from the policies of the current administration and affecting every corner of American society. Clearly, it is more important than ever that we confront the insidiousness that is Islamophobia.”
Abdul El-Sayed, Democratic candidate for Michigan governor and former health commissioner for Detroit
The candidate recently wrote; “I’m a son of Michigan. My father and mother immigrated to Michigan from Egypt. I was raised by my father and my stepmother, Jackie, a native of Gratiot County, Michigan. This is where I was born and where I was raised. I love Michigan. But we’ve fallen on hard times. Our politicians seem to have forgotten that government should be for people, by people. Instead, they’ve bent over backward to accommodate corporate greed.”
André Carson, US Representative for Indiana’s seventh congressional district
Mr Carson recently said: “I serve with the directive and drive to be the best representative of the seventh congressional district of Indiana – putting Hoosiers first and thinking about Americans. As a Muslim, my role has been to inform, refute any perceptions or misconceptions about the religion, though I don’t purport to be a scholar. But I still think it comes with responsibility to motivate and encourage other Muslims to participate in the political process.”
