Government & Politics

Sanders wins backing of top Muslim political group Wa'el Alzayat, CEO of Emgage Action, said Sanders is popular among Muslim voters because of his health care plan, criminal justice proposals and environmental policy.

(Politico) Emgage PAC, which calls itself the biggest Muslim political action committee in the country, is throwing its weight behind Bernie Sanders. The organization, which has chapters and affiliates in 11 states, is the latest in a series of high-profile Muslim groups […]

Government & Politics

Meet the progressive Democrat running for Congress in the heart of Arab America Solomon Rajput, a medical student and congressional hopeful, is seeking to take down one of the longest-standing political dynasties in the US

(Middle East Eye) Congressional hopeful Solomon Rajput says his early morning commute to school, more than 20 years ago, left an indelible mark on his political outlook. Growing up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a school bus would pick him up from his […]

Government & Politics

Sanders touts endorsement from Iowa Dem who defended convicted terrorist Hillary Clinton returned donations and denounced the American Muslim Alliance. Now, Sanders embraces its leader.

(Free Beacon) Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders touted the endorsement of Ako Abdul-Samad, who once defended an al Qaeda propagandist and runs a Muslim-American organization so controversial that other Democrats have returned its donations. “I’m honored to have Rep. Abdul-Samad’s endorsement,” Sen. […]

Government & Politics

US election 2020: At one Iowa mosque, almost all caucus votes went to Bernie Sanders Muslim-Americans came out overwhelmingly in support of Sanders at mosque in Des Moines

(Middle East Eye) “Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar.” The Muslim call for prayer, known as adhan, echoed through the Muslim Community Organization in Iowa as voters stood in a registration line outside the prayer hall, waiting to attend the Democratic Party’s caucuses at […]

Government & Politics

Ilhan Omar takes Bernie Sanders’ message to Iowa mosque 'It's not about somebody else. This election cycle is about us,' US congresswoman tells Muslim Americans

(Middle East Eye) If Muslim-Americans want to become “visible” and elevate their issues on the decision-making table, they must participate in the upcoming presidential elections. That was Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s message to worshippers at the Muslim Community Organization in Des Moines, Iowa. […]

Government & Politics

Trump administration expands travel ban The White House placed restrictions on immigration from half a dozen additional countries, including Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country.

(Politico) President Donald Trump will expand his contentious travel ban, placing new restrictions on six additional countries, just as he embarks on a tough reelection campaign where he will tout his hard-line stance on immigration. Immigrant visas will be suspended for citizens […]

Government & Politics

Bernie Sanders endorsed by Muslim group, Iowa’s sole Muslim state lawmaker The senator from Vermont has been a top contender among Muslim American voters in the Democratic presidential contest.

(HuffPost) The national board of the Muslim Caucus of America as well [as] Iowa state Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad announced their endorsements of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for the 2020 presidential election. “What you have here is an individual who stands up for […]

Clerics & Preachers

CAIR-Ga. names new executive director

(Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Activist, educator and former imam Abdullah Jaber has been named the new executive director of the Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Jaber, 29, assumes the post on March 1. Jaber plans to make his first public appearance […]

Government & Politics

More than 120 members of Congress issue letters of support to leading anti-Israel group Congressional support for CAIR likely to generate concern in pro-Israel community

(Free Beacon) More than 120 members of Congress privately issued letters of support to a controversial Islamic-American advocacy group known for its involvement in one of America’s most prominent terrorism financing cases, according to a copy of these official communications obtained by […]

Government & Politics

Israel’s UN envoy calls for action against ‘anti-Semite of the year’ Ilhan Omar The congresswoman sparked controversy last year by making statements that Jewish groups and her congressional colleagues called anti-Semitic

(Haaretz) Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, on Monday encouraged “action” against U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, directly meddling in American politics. Taking to Twitter, Danon referred to the right-wing Stop Antisemitism organization that “just named Congresswoman Omar its 2019 anti-Semite […]

Academics & Education

Muslim group urges debate moderators to ask candidates about Trump’s antisemitism decree It would be 'disservice to American voters' if moderators did not heed call during next debate, CAIR's government affairs director says

(Middle East Eye) The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called on the moderators of the next Democratic presidential debate to question candidates about a recent executive order that effectively silences criticism on US campuses of Israeli human rights abuses. The order, […]

Government & Politics

American Muslims to Democrats: ‘Palestine is a foreign policy priority’ The American Muslims for Palestine convention was bigger than ever, with participants looking to build momentum with Democrats

(Middle East Eye) Activists and academics gathered in Chicago over the weekend for the 12th annual American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) convention, calling on American Muslims and the Democratic Party to prioritise Palestine as a foreign policy issue. Those present at the […]