Muslim Leaders to Discuss Future
By DEBORAH KONG
AP Minority Issues Writer
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The logo for the American Muslim Alliance convention Saturday is the Islamic crescent and star combined with the Stars and Stripes _ two identities the group's leaders want to fuse into a unified, political force.
The alliance is one of a few national political Muslim groups and the first to meet since the Sept. 11 attacks that "forced Muslims to come out into the public square," said Agha Saeed, the group's national chairman.
More than 500 people are expected to gather at a hotel in San Jose for the convention of the Muslim education and leadership group.
Leaders of the Fremont, Calif.-based organization hope to discuss how to counter prejudice against Muslims and become more politically active.
"We need to mobilize the masses of Muslims in this country to make sure they know they are Americans, they are Muslims," Shabbir Safdar, vice chairman of the group, "and they have exactly the same rights and exactly the same opportunities as any other Americans have."
America is focused on Islam as never before. While the religion has been praised by President Bush, Muslims are facing intense questioning about their faith and their loyalty to the United States.
Safdar said the attacks set Muslim gains in America back by about 10 to 20 years.
"Our job is now cut out, to make the American public aware of what true Islam is and what Muslims are," he said. "There is a renewed commitment to make sure that the message gets out and that Muslims realize there is a virtue in having a political unity and a political movement."
It could be a tough job. Some Muslims in the United States are Arabs, some are South Asians, some are blacks. They include recent immigrants and people whose families have been here for generations. Some come from countries where it was dangerous to express their political views and get involved in politics.
Though Muslims number about 6 million in the United States, there are no Muslims in Congress, on the Supreme Court or in high-ranking positions in the Bush administration.
"Just because we've had visibility doesn't mean we've become major power brokers in this country," said Mohamed Nimer, research director at the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
At the convention, leaders will try to move their diverse group toward a unified agenda. Some say there is common ground, citing protection of civil rights, opposition to sanctions against Iraq, and persuading U.S. policy makers to give more attention to the plight of Palestinians.
But the new political landscape has discouraged some Muslims. "They think it's a difficult battle, harder to fight now with the negative view of us," said Yahya Basha, president of the American Muslim Council. "They kind of sit in the closet and feel it's hard to fight anymore."
At the conference, leaders say, they want to address ways American Muslims can become more politically active and increase representation.
Zahid Bukhari, a fellow at the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, said he hopes increased political visibility and activity will lead to concrete results.
Public avowals of support for American Muslims are fine, he said, but "the practical distinction will be made very clear to the Muslim world when they have more Muslims in different positions in the government."
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