(Middle East Eye) As soon as communal prayers ended at a mosque in Des Moines on Friday, Imam Jaaphar Abdul Hamed turned to worshippers to remind them that the state’s caucuses to pick the Democratic presidential nominee [are] on Monday.
Such announcements are a common fixture during election season, and are usually followed by instructions to find voters’ exact precinct on caucus night.
But those who attended Friday prayers at the Muslim Community Organization were told that the mosque’s green and yellow building, along with four other Muslim houses of worship in the area, will host caucus-goers for the first time in the history of the state.
Unlike a primary, participants don’t just vote and go. They have to stick around and try to solicit support for their candidate. That’s why the location of the caucus is especially important.
