The 29th annual convention of Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) and Muslim American Society (MAS) concluded at the sprawling Cleveland Convention Centre in the third week of July 2004. Usually ICNA-MAS doesn't have a tradition of adopting a final declaration to wrap up their conventions, yet their message was clear and unambiguous for the American Muslims and other minority communities living in the U.S: "Know your rights and struggle to protect your freedom." They also made their intent known to the country's political leadership. "No more free vote and support unless you back our agenda."
Organizers claimed that 5,000 Muslims from across the U.S. attended the event, which is considered to be one of the biggest congregations of American Muslims after the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA - which attracts about 30,000 participants).
The theme of this year's convention was "preserving morality and freedom". The three-day convention dealt with a heavy agenda in over 56 sessions. More than 100 speakers addressed these sessions, majority of which were parallel and on diverse topics.
The Bush Administration remained the punching bag for speaker after speaker during almost all the daily main sessions of the convention. The speakers were unanimous in their opinion that the Bush Administration had done more harm than good to the US interests by antagonizing the Muslims not only at home but all over the world. The mood of the speakers was rebellious and their tone suggested their audience not only to get involved in mainstream politics but also vote out Bush from the White House in November.
Though several of the influential and respected Muslim leaders did not endorse any of the Presidential candidates, yet their body language and the organizers invitation to a Democratic Party's presidential candidate - Congressman Dennis Kucinich - suggested the undeclared support for the Democratic Party.
Many observers termed the move the clearest indication of their closeness to the Democratic party. Supporters of another presidential aspirant Lyndon H.
LaRouche, Jr. were also very much visible. They had set up a full-fledged stall in the convention Bazaar where they were not only distributing their literature but also receiving donations from LaRouche supporters. Also visible by her presence was the popular host of Democracy Now radio and TV channels Amy Goodman who delivered an impressive speech in one of the sessions dedicated to the "Muslim agenda -- being part of the solution." There was a long list of star speakers, who delivered impressive speeches. Mahdi Bray, Imam Zaid Shakir, Prof. Agha Saeed, Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Shah and Dr Ahmad Mumtaz besides Amy Goodman and Congressman Dennis Kucinich were to name a few. Former chaplain at Guantanamo's detention camp Chaplain James Yee and Attorney Alex Mayfield, who was wrongfully detained in connection with Madrid bombings, were also present to share their ordeal in captivity with the audience.
While many speakers pointed out the sufferings of Muslims, few offered practical and precise remedies. Mahdi Bray and Agha Saeed were more focused on solution than the problem. Mahdi Bray suggested American Muslims to take seven measures that could help them empower themselves politically and to be heard in the corridors of power. His proposals sought increased Dawah of Islam; advocacy, education, litigation and legislation; training to reach out to the government quarters in efficient and effective way, building of coalitions within and outside the community, mentoring the youth by delegating more responsibilities to it in leadership and to be vocal in their opinions. "We have to change the leadership paradigm," he said adding that Muslims must shun the old practice of photo sessions with Congressmen and other public representatives. "We have to move from fluff to real stuff." He said Muslims' interaction with politicians should be more issue oriented so as to make them understand our sensitivities to domestic and foreign policy issues.
Mahdi Bray also pointed out that the American Muslims were also facing credibility crisis. "While we are quick to point out the damaging policies and draconian laws of our own country or for that matter other countries, we fail to condemn some of the same practices in the Muslim countries. This speaks of our double standards and makes us less credible." In his well-researched speech, Prof. Agha Saeed, the national chairman of the American Muslim Alliance and the American Muslims Task Force on civil liberties and election 2004, said America had never been as religiously diverse as it is today. He said one of the impacts of this gradual diversity had been ideological alienation of Muslims and other religious minorities. He said minorities could better protect their rights and liberties through proactive political engagement.
"Please create educated Muslim voters and make sure that your vote has a value," was the message the professor had for the American Muslims. He said Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio would be very hard-fought in election 2004. These states have large Muslim voter population, which makes Muslim voter mobilization all the more important. "Your priorities should be voter registration and voter education," he said adding that Muslim voters must participate everywhere and on the basis of civil rights agenda. He thought Muslims should use their vote en-block in favour of any candidate and that would give it more value.
Brandon Mayfield, an Oregon lawyer jailed this year as a material witness when investigators mistakenly linked him to the March 11 train bombing in Madrid, told one of the sessions that the Department of Homeland Security and other government agencies are now engaging in "religious profiling," because they are targeting Muslims, both native-born and from abroad. Mayfield echoed the advice of a New York lawyer who told him to "just say no to the FBI" if agents came to question him.
Also attending the afternoon session on civil liberties was Army Capt. James Yee, a Muslim chaplain who was detained for 76 days during an espionage investigation at the U.S. detention centre in Cuba. Yee said many immigrants from developing nations are accustomed to severe police powers and are less likely to stand up for their rights in the U.S., partially because they are not aware of them. He noted that he was still in the Army and still an officer and that his views were not necessarily those of his employer, the Department of Defense.
Imam Zaid Shakir discussed government surveillance of Muslims since Sept. 11, 2001. He said no one could deny that there has been a concerted campaign against people's right to privacy, but it is merely a continuation of the erosion that has been going on for more than 20 years. He said that in the atmosphere of fear that has been encouraged by the government, government abuses tend to be accepted Earlier, Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell, Councilman Zachary Reed, Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones and a representative from Governor Bob Taft's office were at hand to welcome the participants at the Convention Centre during opening ceremonies.
This year's ICNA-MAS convention was much better organized than the previous year. The location for the convention was ideal as it was very close to the hotels where most of the guests were lodged. Similarly, this year, better quality food and at much reasonable prices was available in Sheraton Hotel, where one of Pakistani community's restaurant of good repute had turned a hall into its make-shift restaurant.