leaders meeting

Islamic Association of North America (IANA), held an important meeting for Minnesota Muslim leaders. This comes at a time where Muslims nationwide experienced hate and Islamophobia during the 2016 election but more so after Trump’s divisive win. This led to Muslim opposition groups to increase. Within weeks of his presidency, the president authorized an executive order banning seven majority Muslim countries.

A week passed after trump’s ban order, a federal judge in Washington State temporarily and later indefinitely blocked the president’s controversial ban entry to the United States. This was a relief to all immigrants who were affected and swiftly the white house criticized and called the judge’s ruling “outrageous”. The ban was constructed poorly and lacked any logic. It exempts countries where the president had business ties with. It doesn’t mention other faiths to be included but indirectly encourages government officials to not admit people who are Muslims.

The order made it clear that xenophobia and Islamophobia is an accepted American foreign policy that “ The United States must ensure that those admitted to this country do not bear hostile attitudes toward it and its founding principles,” the ban says, making it seem that all Muslims should be considered a threat in the American soil.

Muslim Americans faced obstacles and fear. American mosques and Islamic centers became the victims of vandalism, harassment and ant-Muslim bigotry including the president’s direct hate policy. They’ve felt that there’s a need to make adjustments. They were less involved in politics, media, and  civic engagement.  For now, they’re ready to stand with other like-minded Americans who think trump doesn’t represent their voices. This created the Muslims to be more organized and be vigilant. On February 22 2017, Muslim community leaders discussed about bringing Minnesota’s Muslim leaders together to find common solutions about the new U.S administration’s anti-Muslim policy and to collaborate among ourselves about the dangers and challenges Muslim Americans are facing.

After presentations of different topics and group discussions, the outcome of the meeting was to collaborate, build alliances and have a strong voice within Muslims in the state. Finally, an ad hoc committee was born to continue the work.