Elections key to UW Muslims

Kayla Webley
2004-11-01
The Daily

For members of the UW Muslim Student Association (MSA), Tuesday's election has larger implications than economic policy, health care and taxes.

"The Muslim vote is important because I'd say, more than any other population, we've been affected the most by the policies after 9/11," said Irmina Haq, public relations officer for the MSA.

Eighty percent of likely American Muslim voters say they plan to vote for Sen. John Kerry in the upcoming presidential election, according to the Council on American-Islamic relations Web site.

Though the MSA cannot officially endorse one candidate over another, members align with national statistics in their support Kerry for president because of the effect the current administration has had on their community.

"I think four more years of [George W.] Bush will be extremely detrimental to the Muslim population, in considering immigration, residency status, getting jobs and working within society," said Sara Levy, graduate student in social work.

Haq feels that young members of the Muslim community have recently become politically involved because of the direct effect the election could have on their community.

"After 9/11 a lot of Muslim people, young Muslims in particular, felt the need to really get politically involved. We've had demonstrations, we joined groups, we created campaigns," said Haq. "When policy affects you, the only way you can improve your standing is by getting involved and not staying out of the picture. We had to get involved."

Legislation passed since Sept. 11, 2001 is the main issue of concern for Muslims in regards to the election.

"The main concern right now is with the Patriot Act and where it's going," said Sohira Siddiqui, freshman and member of MSA. "I would not like to see the Patriot Act passed. It effects everyone in a negative way ... I think it is important to keep our country safe, but I also don't think it is necessary for them to take away our civil liberties. If you read the Patriot Act and then you read the First Amendment, they are clearly in conflict."

MSA members say that Muslims have been particularly affected since the Patriot Act was implemented.

"So many Muslims since 9/11 until now have been targeted and arrested for no reason with no evidence and they stay in jail for one to two years and are released with no charge against them, so basically they are in jail for years because of nothing, just because their name is Mohammad ... or because they look Muslim," said Mohammad Sarhan, president of MSA.

Siddiqui feels that people should be detained through just means and not because of nationality.

"Right now a lot of Muslims are being detained ... If they are justly put in jail then I have no objection. This is my country too and if anyone is here and trying to stir up something bad then I don't want them in the country either," said Siddiqui. "But if someone is here trying to support their family and trying to make an honest living ... and simply based on the fact that they are Muslim they are put in jail, I don't agree with that."

According to Haq, Muslims are afraid of what else may happen to their community if Bush remains in power.

"A lot of Muslims feel as though their rights have been shredded since 9/11 and they feel that if Bush stays in office that will continue to happen and we will be like second class citizens," she said.

Sarhan hopes that, if elected, Kerry would make well-thought-out decisions.

"My hopes are that Kerry will be a better leader as far as thinking before doing. I think that Bush has a cowboy mentality like, 'let's go get 'em' and it doesn't matter what anybody thinks or what the world thinks, we're going to do it," said Sarhan.