Dear President Barack Obama,
Along with many American Muslims, my family and I listened to your speech today on the Middle East and North Africa. While I appreciate your encouraging statements to the people of the Muslim world -- particularly to those who are currently fighting for dignity and civil rights in their own lands -- I also couldn't help feeling that many Americans are not setting the example of which you spoke when it comes to our own Muslim citizens.
Currently, 20 states have introduced anti-Muslim legislation, with more pending. Some of our country's lawmakers and politicians have made very bigoted inflammatory comments about Muslims and Islam. Very recently, Tennessee, under extreme pressure, rewrote a bill that would have made it a crime punishable by 15 years in prison for Muslims to worship together in groups of two or more. Organized groups are staging hate rallies against Muslims building houses of worship around the country. Local municipalities are playing the zoning game by zoning Islamic schools and mosques out of the community. Mosque playgrounds are being torched. Muslim family homes, property, and mosques are being vandalized. Children are being bullied and harassed because they are Muslim. Shockingly, last week the Editor of the Gainesville Times in Florida published a letter that called for the expulsion of all Muslims from America. Recently, several Muslim clerics, and also a young Muslim woman were pulled off airplanes for no other reason other than they were dressed in recognizable Muslim attire. This is all being seen through the modern technology's "window into the wider world" that you mentioned in your speech, but like all windows, you can also look from the world outside and see what's happening inside.
What does it say to the world when our President speaks about rights for people in the Muslim world that "include free speech; the freedom of peaceful assembly; freedom of religion" when our own people are being hindered from building mosques, and schools, and our right to worship freely is even being threatened?
Mr. President, Muslims in America know that you do not stand with this kind of bigotry and hatred. During your announcement of the killing of Osama bin Laden you said,
As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not -- and never will be -- at war with Islam. I've made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam.
We appreciated this statement, however, judging by the uptick in anti-Muslim incidents since the death of bin Laden, the words weren't enough to resonate with those in America who feel threatened by their Muslim neighbors.
Mr. President, Muslims need your leadership, your strong voice, and your support in this regard. You are a friend to the world's Muslims, especially those fighting for their freedom, but Muslims need your friendship here on our own soil. Anti-Islam bigotry is getting worse in America -- not better.
In our home, we love and respect you as our President; will you show us the same love and respect as a patriotic American family by speaking out strongly against this growing trend of anti-Muslim bigotry?
Follow Kari Ansari on Twitter: www.twitter.com/KariAnsari
Robert P. Jones, Ph.D.: Bin Laden's Death: When Bad Things Happen to Bad People
Ms. Ansari:
You have joined a religion with a history of aggressive immigration, dawa and jihad.
History also tells us your co-religionists prize political control of those non-Muslim cultures they manage to dominate demographically and then destroy--ask Egypt's pre-Islamic Copts and Iran's pre-Islamic Zoroastrians and members of the native cultures of Malaysia and Indonesia. America has no intention to become a member of that list of Muslim-destroyed cultures, and we are making that clear.
I do not condone illegal acts of resistance, but--knowing this history of Islamic conquest, with and without the sword--what culture would not resist? I, for one, do not trust the easy lip service given to the idea of coexistence between Islamic and non-Islamic cultures. History argues against such trust.
Words are cheap, let's see some action. Let's see Muslims respecting minorities.
You want the resistance to stop? Bring the doctrines of Sharia law into compliance with American law and culture. Support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, rather than the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam. Repudiate Islam’s claim to be the only true religion, divinely ordained to rule the world—through violent jihad when necessary.
Peace, Ms. Ansari.
There's no point in arguing with people who have no interest in hearing another viewpoint that is contrary to their comfortable narrative.
Islam is totally compatible with living in a democratic America.
Please know that a lot of us who are not Muslim realize this, and we know that Muslims know it, too.
It's fairly obvious for anyone who is willing to actually talk with Muslims, listen to what they have to say, and observe what Muslims, specifically American Muslims, actually do.
I am an atheist...what is the fate of atheists in muslim countries?
Until you resolve the problems that exist in countries where muslims rule, you should certainly be able to understand why some people fear a large muslim presence anywhere. And by the way, I feel the same way about christians having overwhelming power in this country. If there is a problem with the way muslims are treated here, you should work through the courts to overturn laws just as atheists and other religious minorities do. Work for separation of church and state. This nation should remain secular for the protection of ALL that live within its borders.
A little research before posting helps.
Please give one example of Muslims trying to establish alternate laws in this country. You won't be able to do it, because it's not happening.
“We appreciated this statement, however, judging by the uptick in anti-Muslim incidents since the death of bin Laden, the words weren't enough to resonate with those in America who feel threatened by their Muslim neighbors.”
So, after careful reading it should be obvious that I support the President and the job he has been doing under extremely challenging circumstances since he took office. I completely disagree with the above comments.
No one person can effect change to the growing trend of intolerance toward America’s Muslim community, but collectively, as a nation with stronger voices from our fair-minded leadership; we can begin to reverse this situation by speaking out against it.
Do you really feel a President could have anti-American motives?
It sounds like you're going to be quite disappointed when President Obama is re-elected.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6902812n
If you feel we do, then perhaps you should move to a Muslim country.
And the laws are anti-muslim. The law in Tennessee would make it punishable to wash my feet before offering prayers. There are no such laws that ban Jews from using Halachiac laws for family matters nor with Christians.
Amendment I of our Constitution.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Perhaps is the lack of understanding our own law that you need to get more familiar with, forget other country.
Thirdly, why is it that when Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan or Israel (and currently Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, and Yemen) are mentioned, every Muslim seems eager to talk about the struggle of their brothers and sisters, and yet as soon as someone mentions the way these very same people treat their minorities (be it religious or sexual preference), you're eager to add that you have nothing to do with them?
You see yourself as one whenever it suits you, and distance yourself whenever you don't wanna be associated with backward behaviour.
I will agree with that many Muslims have their head in the sand about the way religious and ethnic minorities are treated in Muslim majority countries. It is a blight that I pray one day ends. Our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) never encouraged Muslims to treat others this way, so the rotten people who are burning churches and killing non-Muslims are living the opposite of the example set for Muslims.
Looking at history though, these atrocities are recent. Generally, Muslims, Christians and Jews living in the Middle East did so in somewhat harmony. Not saying it was idyllic, but then again, what country is? Most of the misdirected anger and prejudice towards non-Muslim minorities started after WW2 when those said countries struggled for independence and there was great social and economic upheaval.
In any case, I am praying for a better time when all of this nonsense ends, and non-Muslims can feel safe in their neighborhoods once again without threat of being attacked by some zealot. Just as I pray the same for Muslims in other countries.
Quit the whining Kari, there are countless examples of hate and discrimination carried out against every group here. When the Muslim community cleans up its act and quits generating, associating with and making excuses for terrorists and terrorist actions, I'll stand with you.
I mean, according to your logic, no one should speak about discrimination and acts of hate upon the community they belong to, because other people also are recipients.of said hate. Right?
Thank you so much for this letter.
Peace,
Kelly
as a Non-American who lives outside the United States, I am saddened to hear about the troubles and disgraceful legislations that peaceful, secular Muslims are facing in the US.
However, in a very strange way, I feel that articles such as yours may actually have the counter-effect on some people, including myself, I must admit. While the issues that Muslims are facing (and trends indicate that things seem to be getting worse) are very serious, they are nothing compared to the issues that religious minorities are facing in almost every Muslim majority country.
And by saying that, I don't mean to belittle the prejudices and problems that Muslims are facing in "the West". But as for improving the reputation of Muslims in "the West", I think you'd be a lot more successful if you spent as much time showing compassion for religious minorities in Muslim majority countries as you do trying to tackle "Islamophobia" in the United States.
Complaining about religious freedom in "the West" while seemingly ignoring the horror that religious minorities are facing in Muslim majority countries make Muslim efforts such as yours look like yet another Muslim complaint rather than a call for basic human rights in and outside the United States.
We all have a specific focus for our work, and mine is particular to my own country. It's true that many Muslim majority countries are not following the true example of Islam when it comes to women's rights, or the rights of religious minorities. I've written previously that I strongly believe the American Muslim community can be a shining example of pluralism and interfaith respect and understanding for the rest of the world's Muslims, however, if we are being hindered from growing and thriving as a community due to erroneous anti-shariah state legislation and zoning laws against building Islamic places of worship and education, and if Muslims in America are afraid of even going about their daily lives because of a growing trend of hatred toward them, it will be very difficult to be a strong and visible example for our overseas brothers and sisters in Islam to follow.
So, I am working toward this end, but it just may not be easy to see the big picture!
I understand that you want to focus your work on your country. Not only does it make more sense to start with one's personal environment/society, but it's probably also a lot more efficient, too.
But I'm afraid that that's not how people are going to see it. I for one live in a European country with a Muslim minority far greater than that of the US. I live in a country where every supermarket in every little town sells Halal meat, and almost every town has had it's own mosque -- for decades. And while having parents from two different countries, I grew up not only loving the pluralism that I was exposed to, but being part of it.
But like others, I am finding it increasingly hard to resist the (primitive) reactionary sentiment of "what more do they want?". And while it's sad to see the conditions that minorities are exposed to in Muslim majority countries, it will -- unfair as it may be -- reflect on the Muslims living in the West, despite a significant amount of them migrating to the West particularly *because* they embraced Western pluralism.
I think many people (including myself) would feel more comfortable if they saw more Muslims condemning the treatment of minorities in Muslim majority countries. If you want to promote pluralism and equality, the Saudi Embassy would be a great place for a protest. It doesn't always need to be outside the White House...
I am an american that said shahadah almost 8 years ago , and i just have to say that your letter was really needed and apreciated by muslims all across america . America can not criticise muslim countrys for actions America is performing in it's own country.. at least not with credibility ...... Masalaama
Perhaps you are not aware but Muslims them selves has been persecuted by their own government, some who were even install by the West, besides, since when we in the civilized world hold another minority responsible for the action of another country.
Furthermore, isn't the US is suppose to be different that most of these repressive gov. Are we supposed to stood at their level forgetting the whole "First Amendment" of our constitution.
Did we require that from African-Americans, that unless they African countries improve the condition of their minorities we will continue to enslave them.
I think not!
You are right when you say we shouldn't base our laws on those of repressive governments overseas. It would be very wrong (and even childish) to punish minorities in the West because people think "they should get a taste of their own medicine".
But wrong as it may be, it seems to be the reality. And while I don't necessarily agree, you can't blame people for feeling like there's a double standard.
As an example, I would like to point to Switzerland's law on "banning minarets" that was passed last year. I'm not sure if you heard about it, but last year the Swiss population voted that any mosque built in Switzerland in the future should not be allowed to have a minaret. As a result, there was a vast outcry among Muslims and non-Muslims worldwide. There were protests, flag-burning, and Swiss embassies attacked abroad -- as usual, I'm afraid to add.
In the same year, the government of Qatar permitted the construction of the first ever church in Qatar. But to make sure Muslims weren't offended, the church is neither allowed to have visible crosses, nor a bell-tower. So it's pretty much the same rules they have for mosques in Switzerland. The only difference being: Nobody criticised Qatar. In fact, everyone applauded their government for their fantastic interfaith dialogue.
Off course America, Europe and Australia will not turn into some kind of Islamic state, but I can (more or less) understand people who are afraid that we are moving in that direction; who are afraid of bearded men with white caps (and sometimes loud voices); who are afraid of women in black niqabs; ... So, my question is: “How can we dispel these negative feelings?” I hope by blogs like yours :)