By Abdisalam Adam

Rep. Peter Kings (R-NY), Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee held very controversial, discriminatory, and intimidating hearings, on the so called “Radicalization of American Muslims,” on Thursday, March 10, 2011. I was very confused about the purpose of the hearings and I have not seen anything of substance come out of them other than casting a cloud of suspicion over law-abiding hard-working community. I see the hearing as politically motivated. Rep. King has made clear that he would continue the witch-hunt of Muslim-Americans by holding more hearings in the course of the year. The signals we are seeing from leading Republican Presidential candidates such as Newt Gingrich and Mike Huckabee are not encouraging. So, it is sad that politicians would climb on the Muslim bashing bandwagon to win elections.

However, it was heart-warming to see the moving testimony of my representative, Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) in whose 5^th district I have the privilege of residing. Mr. Ellison has shown his compassion, care, concern, and sincerity in standing for the civil and religious rights of all Americans. His invocation of Mohammed Salman Hamdani, a Muslim-American killed in the line of duty on Sept. 11, and yet whose patriotism was questioned because of his religion is indeed painful. Congressman Ellison has been in the media constantly standing for the marginalized and disaffected. He has also been a voice of reason in defending constitutional rights and promoting the aspirations of freedom loving peoples here and abroad.

As a Muslim-American-Somali living in Minnesota, I am baffled by the purpose and manner of the hearings. The hearings single out the Muslim community when the threat of violence and domestic terrorism is much wider in scope than one community. The Muslims continue to be picked upon because they are the easiest targets, and they may not be well organized to hold politicians accountable for their actions to the same effectiveness as other communities.

The hearings did not produce any significant new data on clear trends of radicalization among Muslim-Americans. The tragic scenarios of the past were played all over again. I must emphasize that I empathize with the pain of the relatives of the young men who left and were killed in the civil war in Somalia. However, I feel the families and the communities were going through a slow process of healing only to be reopened again by the hearings. The phenomena of Somali youth leaving for Somalia happened during the Ethiopian invasions of Somalia in 2006-2008. Ralph Boelter, FBI Special Agent in Charge for our region has publicly stated that there are no indications of youth leaving for Somalia lately. Also, the political situation is changing fast in Somalia. So, hopefully, it will go in a direction that establishes stability in the country. However, the heightened tension exacerbated by the hearings feeds more Islamophobia, alienation, stereotyping, and profiling of the community. Minnesota has been the center of a major terrorism investigation and up to now, law enforcement has not produced direct involvement of any mosque or its leadership in recruiting the youth. So, the idea of casting a new dragnet on our community that is still reeling from the painful experience of the past does not help the integration of the Muslim-Somali community.

Some of the statements at the Hearings include:

• Al-Qaeda and like minded groups actively recruit home grown terrorists
• Eighty percent of Mosques nurture radical ideas
• Muslim-Americans do not speak up against radicalization
• Muslim-Americans do not assist law enforcement
• Imams and Islamic centers
• Reject organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

I beg to differ with these allegations.

First, it is true that Al-Qaeda and its affiliates are a threat to peace and security in America. Similarly, the Klu Klux Klan (KKK), the anti-government militias and white supremacist organizations also pose major security threat. The Homeland Security Committee should look at all these sources of threat to the Homeland. In fact, there is an alarming increase in the number of hate groups in the United States. So, the issues should be looked at broadly irrespective of faith.

Secondly, Congressman Peter King has broadly painted mosques as sympathetic to extremist views. The role of mosques is critical for the Muslim-American community. They are the centers of spirituality, education, socialization, cohesiveness, identity, and purpose in life. Therefore, casting doubt over their role does not help healthy growth of the community. We do not hear of scrutiny on other houses of worship. Also, the lectures and sermons are open to the public. So, those who misuse their authority could easily be held to account without making such broad unsubstantiated accusations of mosques. In my experience, mosques play a critical role in promoting political, social, and cultural participation of the Muslim community. Most mosques run on the passions of volunteers, which in turn empowers them to be active citizens.

Third, the most oft repeated claim I hear is that moderate Muslims are silent. That is not the case.  In the Twin Cities, for example, I have personally participated in several rallies against extremism and violence. Also, imam Sharif Abdirahman Mohamed of Dar Al-Hijrah mosque consistently speaks against violence in unequivocal terms. Furthermore, there have been interviews and discussions in the media about the need for moderation and exemplifying the compassionate, tolerant, inclusive, and merciful Islam. The Islamic League of Somali Scholars in America based in the Twin Cities, have issued several statements calling for inclusiveness and moderation.

Fourth, the claim that Muslims do not cooperate with law enforcement is also unsubstantiated and goes against the bridge building community awareness campaign our imams and mosques undertake to enlighten the community. For example, I have been part of many meetings and discussions with law enforcement officials in our state. We also hold Open House events to welcome public officials to the mosques.  As far as I know, that is the case with most of the mosques all over the country. So, the efforts of those Muslims of goodwill are cast in doubt by Rep. King’s hearings. There should be encouragement of communication and trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. In fact, law enforcement and Homeland security acknowledge the role Muslim-American members have played in resolving cases.

Fifth, the attack on Muslim Imams and leadership was totally uncalled for. It is not the job of Congress to choose leadership for the mosques. This is akin to despotic regimes that many Muslim-Americans fled to practice their faith freely. Our imams have been the standard bearers of the community as it grows. They provide immeasurable services with limited resources. It is fair to question individual imams, but it is totally unfair to generalize imams and their roles in the community.

The disappearance of the Somali youth in 2007-2008, took the whole community by surprise. But once, the situation became clear, the community exerted much effort to address the situation. Many meetings were organized to unify the position of the community to provide support to the families and make joint statement condemning extremism. Also, the imams paid visits of sympathy and condolences to the families of the young men who tragically lost their lives at the instigation of Al-Shabab insurgency group in Somalia.

Sixth, it is mind boggling for Rep. Peter King to so blatantly attack the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and suggest that Muslims should change their leadership. That to me is bullying and misuse of power. CAIR is a credible national Islamic organization that has branches in over 35 states. We are blessed to have CAIR-MN in our midst as they consistently stand up for the civil rights of Minnesota Muslims of all walks of life. Their advocacy and educational trainings have gone a long way in creating better relationship among Minnesotans.

In conclusion, the American-Muslim community continues to go through growing pains. The community is vibrant and diverse and I believe these struggles will make it stronger. I am optimistic that the checks and balances of the American political system can withstand the test of power shielding politicians. America has had its low points of political persecution of minority groups in the past. There are clear examples of African-Americans, Jewish-Americans, Catholic-Americans, and Japanese-Americans, and now Muslim-Americans are going through those trials. As a community, we should build bridges with well meaning Americans of all backgrounds and create effective partnerships to lean on our constitutional rights and turn the negative experiences into positive outcomes.

Abdisalam Adam is the Secretary of the Islamic League of Somali Scholars in America

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