American Muslim community is gripped by deep sorrow following a\nbrutal armed attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego last week that\nkilled three people. However, at the annual Islamic Circle of North\nAmerica (ICNA) conference in Baltimore, community leaders stressed the\nimportance of turning grief into concrete action.<\/p>\n
Nearly 25,000 attendees gathered for the event held on Saturday (23\nMay) and Sunday (24 May). Speakers highlighted the courage of the three\ndeceased victims as examples for the community amid rising\nIslamophobia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe owe them more than condolences. We owe them steadfastness,\u201d\nstated Lena Masri, a lawyer with the Council on American-Islamic\nRelations (CAIR).<\/p>\n
The three victims were identified as Amin Abdullah (security\nofficer), Mansour Kaziha (mosque administrator), and Nadir Awad (a\nneighbour). Masri recounted how Abdullah returned fire against the\nassailant, while Kaziha and Awad rushed to assist and contact emergency\nservices to save other worshippers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey protected our physical community space: the mosque, schools,\nchildren, teachers, and worshippers,\u201d Masri explained. \u201cOur\nresponsibility now is to safeguard our civil community space: the right\nto worship, speak, organise, defend Palestine, and build\ninstitutions.\u201d<\/p>\n
The conference\u2019s central theme emphasised that American Muslims must\nnot remain passive. They are urged to use collective power to combat\nextremism and hatred through voting, mass organising, and financial\nsupport for political candidates aligned with their values.<\/p>\n
Symbols of solidarity for Palestine were evident throughout the\nconference venue, from watermelon-themed merchandise to keffiyeh\nscarves. Activists in various panel discussions drew a direct line\nbetween anti-Muslim hatred in the US and foreign policy regarding the\nGaza conflict.<\/p>\n
Altaf Husain, a professor at Howard University School of Social Work,\nstated there is a systematic effort to intimidate Muslims into silence\nabout criticism of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, the\npresence of tens of thousands at ICNA proves the community is not\nintimidated.<\/p>\n
Amid resurgent anti-Muslim rhetoric in US politics, including mass\ndeportation proposals from right-wing figures, Muslim communities are\nturning to legal avenues. A significant victory occurred in Florida when\na federal court overturned Governor Ron DeSantis\u2019s designation of CAIR\nas a terrorist organisation.<\/p>\n
Judge Mark Walker ruled that the government\u2019s action constituted\nindirect suppression of minority free speech.<\/p>\n
Saad Kazmi, ICNA president, asserted that despite anxieties, Muslim\ncommunities must take control of their own future. \u201cIf there is wisdom\nin this tragedy, it is that more people are coming to mosques and\nbelieving that the path forward is to strengthen ourselves and keep\nmoving forward,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/american-muslim-community-transforms-san-diego-shooting-grief-into-action-at-icna-conference-1780140089", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }