Muslims ordered NOT to vote for Harris over Israel support
Over thirty leading imams across the United States have called on Muslim American voters to boycott Harris in the upcoming US Election in November, according to the Middle East Eye and agencies on September 19. They include Imam Dawud Walid, Dr Shadee Elmasry, Imam Omar Suleiman, Dr Yasir Qadhi, and Imam Tom Facchine.
READ: Iran launches waves of missiles at Israel hours after US warning
In an open letter written in collaboration with the ‘Abandon Harris’ campaign, American muslims have been ordered to reject support for “a deliberate, calculated genocide” and to consider voting for independent candidates, as a result of the Biden-Harris administration’s support for the Israeli response to Hamas.
READ: Moroccan court to try Israeli soldier over alleged war crimes
Polls show a rapid decline of the Muslim support for the Democrats, with many following line with social justice groups and legal experts who have declared there to be a genocide against Palestinians.
The letter emphasises that Muslims should still use their vote, but to use it wisely. Some Islamic organisations have suggested Green Party candidate Jill Stein – whose support has rocketed amongst the community in recent weeks – as an electoral option for Muslim Americans, as well as other left wing third-party candidates.
READ: How Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalated to a ground invasion
Despite this movement to shun Harris’ campaign, other Muslim groups have encouraged the opposite. The Uncommitted Campaign has told voters to vote for no other than Harris on November 5th, despite the fact they had previously advised Muslim voters not to do so in the last round of primary elections. Implying that Harris is the best of a bad bunch, they maintain that they do not officially endorse her.
READ: Algeria re-introduces visa requirements on Moroccans
On the opposite end, another Muslim American organisation – Emgage – fully endorses Harris regardless.
Yet, according to the communication director for Abandon Harris, Hudhayfah Ahmad told the Middle East Eye that the letter demonstrates that the Democratic Party is up against the electoral power of the majority of Muslim Americans:
“Over the past few weeks, we have seen several organisations claiming to represent the Muslim-American community either directly endorse the Harris-Walz ticket, as Emgage has done, or offer indirect support, like Uncommitted.”
“This letter, signed by respected Muslim-American religious scholars, represents voices our community turns to for guidance in local mosques and at national Muslim conventions. It is a clear stance on where the overwhelming majority of the Muslim-American community stands: against genocide. And more signatures are on the way.”
Middle East Online / agencies
