Wanted: Reformist Muslims In Obama's Campaign

For now, forget who he'll pick for vice-president. Barack Obama first has to fill a different job vacancy.

That's because his Muslim outreach coordinator, Mazen Asbahi, has just resigned. I can't say I'm disheartened. He'd been embraced by groups like the Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Islamic Society of North America, renowned for their conservative politics and "moderate" double-speak.

Because Obama's campaign trumpets "Change We Can Believe In," he needs reform-minded Muslims. I mean Muslims who recognize that the Quran has been left in a 7th-century tribal time warp. Its interpretations can and must be updated for the pluralistic context of the 21st century.

In my experience, most Muslim moderates won't go there. They insist that "classical" interpretations are the answer. As if 10th-century Muslims dealt with exactly the same dilemmas that we have today.

Who, then, could Obama tap as his next Muslim outreach coordinator? Without having consulted either of them, I nominate two reform-minded Muslims:

* Zainab Al-Suwaij -- executive director of the American Islamic Congress (AIC), which promotes Muslim introspection and personal responsibility. Sound familiar? These are precisely the themes that animate Obama's adult expectations of his African-American community.

The AIC describes itself as being "passionate about moderation." As I much as I take issue with moderates, Zainab's brand of moderation has serious integrity. Her AIC is the first major Muslim organization to speak out about Arab participation in the Sudanese genocide. For that alone, this woman is an agent of moral courage.

Bonus: In the Save Darfur campaign, she's worked right alongside George Clooney. Isn't he about to throw a fund-raising dinner for Obama? On the off-chance that my own recommendation doesn't cut it, Clooney could pull the Democratic candidate aside and give him a first-hand reference about Zainab.

Finally, she's Iraqi-American at a time when such a pedigree matters. Born in Basra, Zainab shuttles between Iraq and the U.S. every few weeks, bringing back key insights from ordinary folks -- information that Obama could surely use to positive effect. And what a signal it would send to the people of Iraq that he's got one of their own as his ambassador to Muslims in America.

* Asra Q. Nomani -- journalist and activist for the rights of women in Islam. She was a close colleague of Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal reporter slain by militant Islamists in Pakistan. That moment sealed Asra's conviction about the need for religious reform.

Since then, she's led the Muslim Women's Freedom Tour -- a series of sit-ins at mosques that segregate women and men. It got results, shaming establishment players such to advocate female-friendly mosque spaces.

Asra has also helped organize the first widely documented woman-led mix-gender prayer in Islamic history. Held in New York City in March 2005, that event blew the lid off a simmering debate throughout the Muslim world -- a debate, now full-throated, about whether women can be imams.

The ramifications for America could be huge. Studies routinely show that in any society, women's status has implications every other quality of life indicator, including economic development and political stability. In their own way, Asra's efforts contribute to American national security.

Above all, her Pakistani heritage, combined with her insider knowledge of how authority operates in South Asia, can only prove valuable for Obama. He's trying to move the war on terror from Iraq to the Afghan/Pakistani border. Which will require serious outreach to Pakistani-Americans as much as to the people of the sub-continent. Need I say more?

Both of these women are provocative for being authentically themselves. Both have been excoriated by Muslim-American defenders of the status quo. Both represent a generation that's still dissed by the feudal elders who steer too many of our mosques and community groups. Beyond that, they're perfect.

Correction: Because of that, they're perfect. Zainab and Asra are the change that Obama advertises. Which is why I can see them sharing the job as co-directors of Muslim outreach for his campaign.

Oh, and one wears the headscarf while the other doesn't. You might wonder what message that would convey. Freedom of expression? Diversity of belief? Bipartisan cooperation of sorts?

Yes, yes and yes. It's the revolutionary ethos of America bringing out the reformist potential of Islam -- and vice-versa. Let the recruiting begin.

Comments

[melodyisafeminist]

Everyone who is part of the progressive social justice movement and the fight for human rights knows how difficult it is to affect change. Certainly, Senator Obama knows how important it is to be an agent of change not only in the U.S. but around the world. Everyday we hear stories about how women around the world are mis-treated and abused and even murdered for being “reform-minded” or who dare to speak out and call attention to human rights violations. Irshad is one of those brave women who is to be commended for calling for the “Change” she believes is necessary within her community. I have participated in panel discussions with Muslim women who are leaders in the struggle for equal rights and who call for the conversations to begin about what real change would look like and how the next President of the U.S. can and must be a leader. I hope that both Senator Obama and Senator McCain will hear Irshad’s clarion call and make a place within their campaigns at the policy and outreach table for women such as Zainab Al-Suwaij and Asra Q. Nomani. Our next President can not run from change but toward the change that will make the world safer for women and girls.

[sy35]

On this website, Irshad Manji proposes that Asra Nomani be given the post of Muslim outreach co-ordinator, a "reform minded Muslim". The irony of this is that as liberal as she is , even she would not be able to pass the criteria that have now been set up for any Muslim representative:

1) She has spoken at the Islamic Society of North America: http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2004/09/an-example-to-l.php

2) Oh, wait, who would that be in the picture right behind her - could it be that guy Mazen Asbahi?

3) The conservative blogosphere would of course have no problem taking personal pot shots at her

4) Did I mention she has spent significant time in Pakistan?

The point being is that Mr Asbahi himself is a moderate, forward thinking American Muslim, who is practicing and with progressive views who is exactly the kind of Muslim who needs to be encouraged to enter the public sphere, and not be unceremoniously pushed out of it based on right wing innuendo. Being part of ISNA, which is the largest umbrella organization of Muslims in the country and attracts Muslims from all viewpoints from conservative to liberal is not an exclusion criteria that should be used to exclude people from being active

[Eduardodelazul411]

MPAC is not conservative. Daniel Pipes, who Irshad Manji considers a friend, is.

[RaquelEvita]

To the poster concerned about why people aren’t telling McCain that he needs to do this: the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee recently hosted McCain’s Arab-American outreach director, Majida Mourad, at their June 2008 convention. Clearly, someone has told him that he must do this – and it has gone quite unnoticed in the media. A mere whisper on the issue when it comes to Obama, however – and the quasi-federal case about his “secret Muslim identity” ruffles more than a few million feathers.

Obama holds in his hands a unique opportunity to reach out effectively to Muslim Americans. The issue has been thrust at him with quite a significant amount of vitriol. He could turn that toxicity into positive change – without missing a beat when it comes to his overarching message.

This becomes about more than votes, and I believe that most of my fellow Americans would agree. As both an American and a Muslim, I’m keenly aware that 9/11’s seventh anniversary is fast approaching – marking almost a decade of and unanswered questions. Many of my fellow Muslims have yet to answer this most fundamental question: “what DOES Islam have to do with atrocities like 9/11?”

Why? A precious few of us are being asked, and even fewer of us are proactively offering those answers. This does nothing for our own cause, and it does nothing for America or the global society in which we live.

[RaquelEvita]

To another poster: are Ms. Manji’s nominees on the fringes? Maybe to some. But without reaching out to the millions of Muslims living in America, how can you be so sure? Who, in fact, are you speaking for? Not me, and I’d argue not the vast majority of us who seek to live according to Islam’s positive, life-affirming precepts.

Both Ms. Al-Suwaij and Ms. Nomani speak to reforms sought by plenty of Muslims. In Egypt, for example, a new group of young men is pounding the pavement to end sexual harassment. I’d love to see American men of all faiths and none marching to the same tune on the National Mall! Islam is not at odds with change. It becomes our responsibility to share that fact with our fellow Americans.

In embracing defeatism over their supposed fringe-existence, you ignore the fact that all Americans desire security. Ms. Al-Suwaij and Ms. Nomani have stepped forward proactively to ask the questions we, as Americans, all need the answers to. If Obama wishes to take his commitment to peace seriously, he must engage voices like theirs in leadership positions.

[iLLogicaL]

Why the hell does Obama need a Muslim outreach coordinator anyway? I mean, c'mon...these people are going to vote Republican after the last eight years?? If so, who cares? They are less than 1% of the population.

Where is Obama's atheist/ag­nostic/fre­ethinker outreach coordinator? The non-religious are a much larger group in America than Muslims, or Jews for that matter, so I don't see why they should be molly-coddled and pandered to any more than us.

Honestly, how many types does Barack need to get burned by religion before he realizes it's best to leave it to the churches?

[Sparhawk]

This is just like the likes of Hagee and others to bring the 'religious' vote. But worse. Christianity doesn't want Muslims dead as it is not commanded in the Bible...The opposite is true....

This is the a glimpse of the Fall of America

[Eduardodelazul411]

Muslims don't want Christians either. It's only the extremists (i. e. Wahhabists) that do.

[Eduardodelazul411]

Oops, I meant to type the word "dead" following Christians.

[mexicanamerican1948]

Before people go down this road, they should read the Koran, and the Hadith,and the commentaries. Plus find where"moderate" mullahs exist. That will be tough,but I would like to find many. I do not hear many condemning those in the moslem communities who support suicide bombing and stating 911 being not being a plot of Bush and the "Zionists". This big lie continues...

[Eduardodelazul411]

That's because the condemners aren't as frequently highlighted by the media.

[nefertiti]

You should google Muslims condemn 9/11 and you ll be amazed at the number of muslim groups that did . try it . .

[Dawud]

If the purpose of the Muslim liaison is to galvanize the majority, mainstream Muslim community to vote for Obama, these two people are the wrong choice.

By what Manji stated, they are not in the mainstream, but "reformers" meaning on the fringe.

How would they be effective in getting out the vote of the mainstream Muslims?

[OldLeatherNeck]

I'm more worried about RW fundamentalist Christians that live in a time warp that pre-dates the birth of Christ.

[Crowhaul]

Agreed. Christians tend to scare me much more than Muslims...

[Sparhawk]

you don't much about Islam...they are a few years away from taking over Great Britain.....We're next

[Sparhawk]

You don't do what worried is...Read the Koran..it'll SCARE the crap outta you

[Sparhawk]

You don't 'know"...sorry for the typo

[nefertiti]

HuffPost's Pick

have you tried the bible and the torah ? it is a lot worse . permission is given to smash infants and gore cattle , and smash head of little ones and take over whole communities . in the koran fighting is always done as self defense ONLY . even during war , muslims are supposed to give assylum to prisoners of war if they request it .

[Dawud]

Actually, these recommendations are horrible if the purpose of the Muslim liaison is to help galvanize the Muslim Americans and Arab Americans, which are around 6 million people, to bring votes towards Obama, especially in swing states like Michigan.

How can recommending two people who are on the fringes of the Muslim community going to help get Obama into office? They have no constituency within the mainstream Muslim community as Ms. Manji admits.

This article is Ms. Manji expousing her own views on "reform", not on helping Obama get into the White House.

[JustAnotherScreenname]

Irshad, the number of Iraqi-Americans and Pakistani-Americans COMBINED is less than the number of Iranian-Americans; why not choose a person from this group? It'll send a good sign to the Iranian people, a good sign to the shias of Iraq (and don't tell me Zainab is some magical appeal-to-­all-Iraqis­-regardles­s-of-sect figure), and most other non-Arab muslims.

Now that we're into the ethnicity game.

[pakiman]

That's not true at all. The majority of muslims in America are of Pakistani descent. Plus we don't want to get some exiled Irani with a grudge against the Iranian govt vis a vis Ahmed Chalabi etc.

[JustAnotherScreenname]

According to wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian-American
Number of Iranians in the US is anywhere between 350,000 and 3,500,000. Number of Pakistanis? 210,000.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistani_American
nothing against Pakistanis, some of my best friends are from there. But there are definitely way more Iranians here.

[orangepetal]

Love it......

[research]

Good idea.

[Srkdqltr]

Excuse me but Why isn't anyont telling McCain he has to do this.? He needs more diversity in his campaign so someone can tell him when he is offensive.
People are always telling Obama he needs to do .. this or that... but never McCain. Whats up with that?

[DavidJames]

Irshad,

These are both fantastic recommendations. Great point about the compatibility of reform minded Muslims with the 21st century.

Regards