|
|
10 things Masjids and organizations
can do for civil rights in America
The fight for civil rights is not just the domain of lawyers and judges. Religious and grassroots organizations also play an important role in this struggle, as the U.S. civil rights movement of the 1960s testifies. Here are some practical things your Masjid, Islamic center, school or institution can do for Muslim civil rights in America 1. Raise awareness about civil rights What is secret evidence? What are racial profiling and discrimination? These are all civil rights issues where Muslims have been targeted. Your Masjids and institutions need to be aware of the struggles across the U.S. (and abroad) that directly affect Muslims, at least. These include the plight of Mazen Al-Najjar, Imam Khalifah Islam and Imam Jamil Al-Amin. Call in a speaker from a Muslim civil rights organization like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to come and speak to your community about the assault on Muslim civil rights in America. Let them talk about practical things you can do to defend and protect these rights. Even better, arrange a speaking tour, where the speaker(s) can present at several different Masjids and institutions in your community. 2. Avoid restricting the role your Masjid or organization Has any board member of your mosque brought unsubstantiated restrictions on what Masjids in America are legally allowed to do? Too often, Muslims assume Masjids and religious organizations in the U.S. can only provide worship services for their communities and nothing else. This is not correct. Masjids can use their not for profit status to support various domestic and foreign policies. They can also support any legal action to defend Muslim rights. The only thing religious organizations are restricted from doing is endorsing a candidate. Muslim organizations can even contribute to legal defense funds. The only condition on this action is most of the Masjid's funds should not go in this direction. 3. Establish a Muslim civil rights committee Want to know how to use all that expertise in your community for civil rights in an organized way? Establish a Muslim civil rights committee. This group would not only be made up of lawyers and legal experts. It should also be comprised of the Imam, law students, and even high school students. It should have some people familiar with media, be they journalists, writers or camerapeople, so that when and if the committee decides to issue an official statement through a press conference, they can do it professionally and properly. And most importantly, the best and most respected people should be selected to be in charge of this committee. They must be efficient, serious and organized so that the community considers their work for civil rights a legitimate cause. The committee would keep watch of the local and national status of Muslim civil rights, inform the organization or Masjid's members about recent developments, and produce a strategy and plan of action on how the organization can help stand up for justice on this front. 4. Make a budget for Muslim civil rights How much of your Masjid or organization's money is allocated to supporting Muslim civil rights? At the next general body meeting, discuss this idea openly and set out a specific share for Muslim civil rights. The money would be used to pay for defense funds for Muslims in trouble locally or nationally. 5. Establish a committee of Muslim lawyers Looking for some expertise in law? Then don't look far. Find out who the Muslim lawyers in your community are. Get them to be the community's legal experts. They don't just have to support and help in bigger causes. They can even offer free legal clinics at the mosque for individuals who need such services. 6. Hold a rally for Muslim civil rights This is a great activity not just for a Masjid or Islamic center, but also for Muslim schools. Rallies are public shows of support or disapproval for a specific action or policy. It is a great way to raise the profile of an issue. 7. Invite the local FBI chief (or his/her equivalent in your locality) to come and listen to the concerns of the Muslim community. This will be a good way to not only build some bridges, but also to remove the fear of authorities that so many Muslims have, especially those coming from authoritarian, dictatorial regimes. 8. Use your noticeboard to promote civil rights Post on your Masjid or center's noticeboard information about the rights and duties of citizens. On another poster, put up information about the rights of immigrants (green card holders and residents). As well, put up information about how to write to the media and different agencies where civil rights violations and discrimination cases are reported. Please note: if you have a completely separate section for women, duplicate the information and post it up on their noticeboard too. 9. Build an interfaith coalition in support of civil rights Mosques, churches and synagogues can cooperate on issues of common concern in a spirit of mutual tolerance and respect. Civil rights is one area where this can be done. If you don't already have a relationship with other religious communities on issues of common concern, civil rights are a great place to start. African-American churches, especially, have experience in this area. 10. Teach kids about civil rights and racism Full-time and weekend Islamic schools are a wonderful place to teach kids about civil rights and racial and religious prejudice from an Islamic perspective. Tell them about how Muslims suffer from racism and prejudice, as well as other groups of people too. Muslim schools, educational programs and camps need to produce Muslims who are not isolationist, but forward and outward looking. Muslims who know their rights and can share Islam in the best way with others. On a practical level, students can do projects, write papers and present in social science class on this topic. Kids can also get involved in collecting funds for the legal defense of Muslims in need.
|
Share your thoughts and ideas on this issue with others
|
