#Current Affairs
The School to Prison Pipeline and #IStandWithAhmed
By Margari Aziza Hill
When 14-year-old Sudanese American Muslim Ahmed Mohamed brought a homemade clock to MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas, he thought he was going to impress his engineering teacher. Another teacher heard the device and reported it to the police. Yet, the school was not evacuated, as is standard procedure in similar situations. And no one showed up with a “Hurt Locker” style suit to dismantle the device. Instead, Ahmed Mohamed was handcuffed in front of his classmates, taken to a juvenile detention center where he had a mug shot taken and was interrogated without his parents or legal representation. Ahmed was charged for a non-violent crime — a hoax bomb.
Image credit: CBS news
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Pictures reveal a shocked child wearing a NASA shirt in handcuffs. As reports spread, the story went viral, garnering a personal invitation from Barack Obama to the White House as well as tours to MIT, his dream school, and a scholarship fund. While anti-Muslim bigotry was the trigger for Ahmed’s arrest, had his case not gathered widespread support he might have been a victim of the school to prison pipeline that plagues Texas. The struggle against the unjust incarceration of youth in Texas still remains. This case demonstrates the ways in which anti-Muslim bigotry, anti-Black racism, and the juvenile criminal justice system worked against Ahmed.
Criminalizing Students
Some Muslims, such as Khalid Hamideh, a representative of the Islamic Association of North Texas, don’t fault the school or police for their response, “Under the current climate that exists in this country, you can’t really blame them because when they see something like that, they have to react.” He puts the blame on politicians who created a climate of fear. However, knowing it was not a bomb, the school’s response raises a lot of questions. Ahmed was arrested for a hoax bomb, which is a reflection of a larger problem of criminalizing students.
Khaled Beydoun writes for Al-Jazeera:
“Muslim American youth are not spared from Islamophobia and its policing dragnet. Although an excellent student, with no record of insubordination, Mohamed’s otherwise pristine record was instantly extinguished by the threat his Muslim background posed. Reality was trumped by the school’s imagined threat of terror, converting a loved student into a perceived radical. Ahmed is also Sudanese American, raising the likelihood that anti-Black racism overlapped with Islamophobia to cast him as suspicious and threatening.”
In an MSNBC interview, Ahmed affirms Beydoun’s analysis, “I felt like I was a criminal. I felt like I was a terrorist. I felt like all the names I was called…in middle school I was called a terrorist, called a bomb maker; just because of my race and religion.” He had already internalized the racist and anti-Muslim narrative.
Anti-Muslim and Anti-Black
Anti-Muslim bigotry is an important feature of this case, however it is also important to consider the ways in which anti-Blackness may have played a part. Hind Makki, a Sudanese American interfaith educator who develops and delivers trainings with diverse communities on civic integration through interfaith action, anti-racism education and youth empowerment, tweeted, “I just want to make sure that Ahmed’s Blackness isn’t erased in the discourse over bullying of Muslim children.”
In fact, many people misidentified Ahmed and assumed that he was South Asian rather than the child of African immigrants. Some insisted that Ahmed was Brown because Islam is racialized as a “Brown religion”. Before, Brown pride meant Latinos, but increasingly South Asians have embraced the term Brown as an ethnic identifier. Brown has become an amorphous category often linked to Latinos, South Asians, and sometimes Arab. In the discussion about the case both non-Black Muslims and non-Muslim Black people spoke, as Sudanese Americans, to argue about Ahmed’s identity. When we can embrace the intersecting identities of Sudanese Americans, we can see how Muslim, African, Arab, Black, and American identities can overlap in ways that dismantle monolithic notions of what it means to be Muslim and American.
Kameelah Mu’min Rashad, University of Pennsylvania Muslim chaplain and founder of Muslim Wellness, writes, “If one lacks a nuanced understanding of how racism, white privilege/supremacy and anti-Blackness operates in this country, ones analysis of Islamophobia will inevitably be incomplete and flawed.”
Focusing on hysteria and rhetoric overlooks how racial and religious profiling in law enforcement disproportionately affects Black and Latino youth, and makes African American Muslim children especially vulnerable to the heavy hand of policing. For example, Minnesota’s Somali community has been subject to a Counter Violent Extremism program, with basic social services now framed as “crime prevention”. One program tracks their school absences. CVE programs stigmatize Muslims as likely to commit acts of violence and a grant program from the Department of Homeland Security supports social services programs that aim to thwart terrorism. In many ways, the teachers and law enforcement in Irving did exactly what these programs are outlined to do. They did so, maybe not out of anti-Muslim bigotry, but due to existing policies. This is why we, as a community, have to look at legislation and procedures.
Considering Mohamed’s race and the bigoted association of Blacks with crime, the punitive measures taken against him become even more salient. Samiha Rahman, a Bangladeshi Ph.D. student wrote:
“The Ahmed Mohamed case is an example of Islamophobia, but let’s not forgets that it’s also an example of the school-to-prison pipeline – where youth of color are more likely to face harsh punishments for minor offenses in school, where Black boys and girls, even in elementary school, are arrested and detained by police officers. Ahmed Mohamed is a Black Muslim student, and that means he is affected by Islamophobia AND the racist school-to-prison pipeline that disproportionately targets Black youth. #IStandWithAhmed.”
According to the ACLU, “Today, more than 170 Texas school districts have their own police department.” Students have been arrested and many, like Ahmed, have not received due process. The 2010 Texas Appleseed report states, “… in some districts, African American students are being punished 50 times more than white students.”
Implicit bias that penalizes skin tone and phenotype often plays a part in harsher punishments in school and in the criminal justice system. According to Frontline’s Sara Childress, “In Texas, failure to attend school, or truancy, is a criminal offense punishable by fines up to $500, plus court costs.” According to the Department of Justice, children in Mississippi are swept into the court system with their constitutional rights often violated. Throughout the country, children are exposed to policing techniques used for adults, and those who come from marginalized and underserved communities often plead guilty in cases where they are innocent. Yet, because of their background and the nature of their alleged crimes, our community does not rally on their behalf.
Speaking Out Against Injustice
By looking at the deeper structural issues that led to Ahmed’s arrest, we can speak out against injustice affecting multiple communities, Muslim and non-Muslim. This is part of our mandate, to speak out for justice whether against rich or poor:
O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted. (4:135)
When we understand the overlapping oppression, we can connect with others who are just as affected. This can lead the Muslim American community to form important alliances with communities who are just as affected by unjust policies.
According to the blog The World Is What It Is, “The common experiences with race will push people of color together and in conflict with whites, resulting in a common interminority identity.” While Sudanese Americans are a small segment of the American-Muslim community, they reflect important intersecting identities that can bring attention to anti-Black, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim bigotry. However, when we focus on Muslim exceptionalism and fail to see anti-Muslim bigotry as an extension of structural racism, we miss important moments of connecting the Muslim community’s struggles with other oppressed groups. By broadening our vision we can move beyond striving for acceptance, and work towards justice that will uplift Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
Margari Aziza Hill is a co-founder and Programming Director of Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative. She holds a masters from Stanford University. She is currently researching colorism in Muslim education.
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Peter
September 22, 2015 at 12:15 AM
It is all very nice for Muslims to play the victim card at every opportunity, when something wrong happens in the western world to a innocent Muslim. However, disgraceful the situation this poor child was placed into, it has not happened in a vacuum.
Where a significant percentage of the Muslim community around the world, is doing its best in instill fear in non Muslims, the silent majority of Muslims cannot constantly pull out the victim card, when the environment of fear has been created deliberately by their fellow Muslims.
If you cry the victim, yet do nothing to stop the source of this fear, then you are part of the problem, not the solution.
I remember the scenes of Muslims all around the work dancing in the streets, on 9/11. I remember the scenes of Muslim riots over cartoons. I have seen first hand on the streets of Sydney, Muslims rioting holding signs saying death to the no believers. 30 second search on the internet shows 1000’s of videos of Muslims chopping off heads and blowing people up.
The fear of Muslim bombing and terrorism by non Muslims, is not one without any basis in fact.
When Muslims truly start holding their fellow Muslims accountable, when Muslims truly acknowledge that they have in effect, contributed to this problem. Then they can claim victim status in matters like this.
The discrimination that Black Americans face every day, the same types of discrimination that Black Aboriginals face in Australia, are not denied by the parties concerned. In the US, There are vast numbers of Black police officer, Lawyers, and community leaders not only trying to stop the not only the actually discrimination, but the root causes.
The Muslim community seems to constantly ignore its role in causing terrible situations like this to occur.
Until then, it does not ring true to the wider society at large, that Muslims are in denial of their own limitations, yet cry loudly only at others. It is called hypocrisy.
Muslim
September 22, 2015 at 9:35 AM
Brother Peter Please Watch this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDTPEw9yX2k (at 6:07 there is an error in the translation. It is supposed to be Oh Allah! send your blessings on (Prophet) Muhammad
You are right to an extend. But we cant ignore the factors that contributed to the rise of extremism. Just check out and compare how many suicide attacks and other crazy attacks in the name of Islam took place before and after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.
I am in no way supporting extremism. And I am a strong adherent of Islam. And we firmly believe that if any person whether muslim or non muslim is killed unjustly then the culprit will be severely punished by God on the Day of judgment. Such is the justice of God. Maybe you haven’t seen how many muslims are trying to correct the corrupted mind set of extremism which has crept into some minds. I can assure you there are many Muslims who try to spread the true teachings of Islam and are trying to get back the extremists into their senses.
Its not an easy job though. Every time these extremists are told to fear God and not to get into extremism, their response is “look at what the U.S. has done to the innocent people in the Muslim lands, they have killed so many helpless men, women and children”. Now our religion teaches us one wrong cannot justify committing another wrong.
But these people put their emotions ABOVE their religion which is why things get out of hand and they take the wrong path.
So, really to wipe out extremism effectively the wrongful oppression by U.S, and other countries should stop. Because in reality this a cycle. One oppression giving rise to another kind of oppression.
And you are right there were people who danced around when the attack happened on WTO. One of my seniors in University told us during an Islamic workshop that when he was not a practicing Muslim, he and his friends celebrated when the WTO happened. But he said he regretted doing that after he started learning more about Islam. The point I want to make is that we have many Muslims disconnected from their religion spiritually and morally. So these people are the ones who usually respond in such ignorant ways.
I pray and hope that God makes you and people around the world, both Muslims and non Muslims understand the true values of Mercy and Justice this religion holds, to the extent that killing or injuring an innocent animal without any legitimate purpose is a crime.
M.Mahmud
September 22, 2015 at 11:29 PM
Greetings Peter
It is not our issue that you are deaf to the day and night toil and struggle that Muslims exert to command good and forbid evil among ourselves. You are not among us and thank God we are not answerable to people who are not aware of our communities let alone our hearts and deeds.
We also publicly condemn criminals and have done so day and night year after year.
We are not answerable to you in the slightest so assume us truthful or assume us liars, our efforts are for the next life not for your pleasure.
When we condemn evil publicly someone comes out and says ” why don’t I hear Muslims condemning evil?”
The answer is that he was prevented from hearing it or he does not want to hear it and so our words fell on deaf ears.
Or it is actually heard and then it is said sarcastically “oh sure OF COURSE they are condemning evil or “these may condemn injustice but what about the rest?” or “sure they condemn it but they are not truly following their religion rather the criminals are.”
It has become apparent that some will oppose Islam an Muslims no matter what and fall into deafness or denial when confronted with the truth. And we are called hypocrites?
Do not worry. Whether you think us guilty or you think us innocent is irrelevant. We are only to fear our Lord and we answer to Him alone. Our failure or success in commanding what is right is for our Lord to assess. So do what you do we will do what we are commanded to do.
Peace
September 29, 2015 at 11:36 PM
Greetings M. Mahmud
What do you mean you are not answerable to non-Muslims in the slightest? Yes you are actually! As citizens of the world Muslims are accountable and need to be responsible neighbors to the rest of the world. Do you think this is about pleasure. No it is about Muslims taking their responsibilities seriously.
Mahmaud Its good to hear you publicly condemn criminals and strive for goodness and peace. Long may Muslims continue to do this and may God Bless them.
You say a common response is “oh sure OF COURSE they are condemning evil or “these may condemn injustice but what about the rest?” or “sure they condemn it but they are not truly following their religion rather the criminals are.” There is good reason for this sarcasm Mahmud. Muslims and Islam appear confused and lacking unity on these issues.
Where are the rallies similar to any thing in the West where millions walked the streets protesting against the actions of Western leaders? Where are your mass rallies protesting against Muslim radicals? Muslim web sites I view have little to say. The common response appears to be the defensive victim.
pam
September 30, 2015 at 7:46 AM
@Muslim Ameen, Ya Rabb.
Mahmud
October 6, 2015 at 2:12 AM
Hello Peace. No, we aren’t answerable to you in the slightest. Yes we are global citizens but if we are going to start on this, you have far, far more public condemning to do then we do.
It is an absolute insult to expect us to condemn terrorist groups when we are their number one combatants and number one victims. Furthermore, considering your crimes in the world far outweigh ours, it truly is saddening you are playing the offense defense(asking us to condemn-where do we see your big rallies against terrorism?)
And why should we bother any more rallies when all we will get are sarcastic responses? You claim these responses are valid(they are not) and then ask why you don’t see us rallying…and yet when we do really this is the response we receive.
It really is a no win situation when we subject ourselves to your demands which we are not beholden to.
This “skepticism” of yours is entirely invalid-the real purpose of asking these questions is to put Muslims in a terrified state to constantly seek to fulfill your demands. To put us in a box and distract us-please, end the double standards if you don’t want defensive responses to your clearly offensive speech.
“Muslims and Islam appear confused and lacking unity on these issues.”
Rather, nonbelievers are either confused, or, more likely, downright disingenuous. We are not obliged to publicly condemn any more than we are at the moment. We have done enough. If you have not heard, it is your failure to hear and not our failure to condemn it loudly enough.
Peace
October 6, 2015 at 8:24 PM
Hello Mahmud
Muslims not answerable to us? Muslims not answerable or beholden to the non Muslim world?
This arrogant thinking contributes to the Islamic fascist thinking so prevalent in OUR world today.
What public is condemning “us” Mahmud? And by the way, just who is “us” ? Who do you think I am representing Mahmud? The public I represent is the same public that rallied in Paris after the Charlie Hebdo shootings. More than a million people marched through Paris as a result. That is the public I represent.
Yes I am well aware Muslims are the number one combatants and number one victims. All the more reason for Muslims to cease their denial and anti western defensive projections and combat their Islamic fascist ilk on all fronts.
Our crimes out weigh yours ? Really Mahmud ? Name them. Lets play God shall we? Bring out your scales and let’s weigh up.
Why should you bother to condemn your own? This is a typical lazy and defensive response that seems so prevalent in Islam. So what is your motivation Mahmud? Are Muslims really that overly sensitive about sarcasm.
Scepticism of mine ? An attempt to put you in a box and distract you? Islam is well distracted enough it seems. Again this is simply more of the same old victimised Muslim conspiracy theory that keeps you in your box of distractions.
Non believers confused? Really? You’re the ones with many of your brethren calling for an Islamic Caliphate while others call for democracy. You are the ones with many proposing Islamist militant action while others of you cite Islam as “the religion of peace”. And you say we are confused.
You say you have done enough and there is a failure of “us” to hear. To hear what Mahmud? The fighting in Syria that continues?
The cries of the non Muslim Nigerian girls taken into slavery by Boko Haram?
The cries of Muslim refugees clambering over each other to reach stable, non-Muslim, European democracies.
A failure to hear the cries of your failed “Arabic Spring”?
I suspect you are more intent and spend more time on blaming the West rather than taking assertive action and spending an equal or more amount of time reforming your own.
And you have the cheek to call us disingenuous. Its time Islam woke up Mahmud. If not the same Islmo – fascist mind is set to continue.
Tadar
September 23, 2015 at 8:14 AM
Check out InfoWars.com
Pam
September 24, 2015 at 9:42 PM
@Peter, let me guess, you’re a white man…
Exactly what percent of Muslims are terrorists? Even if it were as high as 5%, which I doubt, that’s 95% of Muslims who are NOT engaged in evil acts and mayhem. The facts are that we DO have a huge racism problem in this country. We DO have people being fed a constant diet of Islamophobia and fear.
The school to prison pipeline is a huge problem for poor people. Did you know what a powerful lobby the for-profit prison industry is in Washington?
Continue to hate and fear Muslims if you must, but please read Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson to give you a window into our criminal injustice system.
Peace
September 30, 2015 at 1:24 AM
Pam
Exactly what percentage of Muslims remain quiet about the violent actions of their brothers. What percentage of Muslims secretly sympatise with the radicals. What percentage of Muslims spend more of their time criticising the West rather than their own. What do you know about the justice system in Iran or Saudi Arabia ?
Muslim
September 22, 2015 at 9:45 AM
Also please watch this interview on CNN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftERxTcjykM
Peace
September 30, 2015 at 1:59 AM
Greetings Muslim
I agree with you. I also pray and hope that God makes you and others both Muslims and non Muslims understand that killing or injuring an innocent without any legitimate purpose is a crime.
Good to hear you do not support extremism and Gods justice for the innocent.
Pleased to hear that Muslims are trying to correct the corrupted mind set of extremists.
You say “compare how many suicide attacks in the name of Islam took place before and after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq and look at what the U.S has done to the innocent Muslims”. I think you will find the motivation for the Islamofascists is as much about world domination in the name of Islam as it is about self defense.
Why did the US invade Afghanistan and Iraq? The US invaded Afghanistan as an act of self-defense after 911. Self-defense against the Islamists of Al Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban.
The US invasion of Iraq to remove the tyrant dictator Saddam Hussein was and still is more debatable. However, remember it was in the context of fear after 911, the threat of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction that Saddham Hussein had previously used against his own people. Saddham Hussein had proved himself to be a threat to stability of the region.
Pam
September 30, 2015 at 6:40 AM
@Peace, it’s a common problem to compare your ideal with someone else’s reality.
How do you ,”know” how many Muslims secretly support terror? I’ve read many many denunciations of terror by individuals, scholars and organizations. These do not get air play or attention from Faux news and their ilk. The sad truth is I don’t know of one Muslim majority country whose gov’t is living up to the ideals of islam. But my country, the U.S. is not living up to its Constitution either. And another truth is that if you’re a person of color, that will impact you a whole more than if you’re a middle class white person.
Admitting this and trying to advocate for justice does not make one a bad American or a sympathizer with radical ideology.
Peace
October 13, 2015 at 3:27 AM
Hello Pam
Exactly how does anyone know how many Muslims secretly support terror? Obviously range of opinion exists on a continuum.
What percentage of Muslims are active terrorists?
What percentage of Muslims sympathise with terrorists?
What percentage of Muslims actively distrust the non-Muslim world no matter what?
What percentage of Muslims see no possibility of integration between Islam and the non Muslim world ?
What percent see their religion as secondary to the non Muslim society they live in?
And what percentage of Muslims just couldn’t care less, either way?
No one really knows. To talk about 5 percent as terrorists and 95 percent as peace loving is simplistic and misleading.
In terms of denunciations Im sure you are correct. Im sure there are denunciations of terror by Muslim individuals, scholars and organizations. Im aware of Maajid Nawaz in the UK and the good work he does. I must add however that he has had much media and political attention from support. Even having met with President George W Bush Jnr.
Most of what I have heard however is Muslim commentators taking a victimised defensive position and blaming the west for Islamic radicalism. I’ve been following Muslim web sites for years and that’s what I see.
These commentators you speak of. Where are they ? Are they in the West or in Muslim majority countries where the ground swell of radicalism exists ?
Yes I agree Pam, we must all actively advocate for justice.
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Peace
September 29, 2015 at 11:28 PM
My sympathies to Ahmed Mohamed. Yes the Texan justice system does have a reputation for heavy handedness. Interesting that there is a Black Policeman in the photo. I wonder what he thinks of it all ?
Interesting that Muslims such as Khalid Hamideh blame “politicians for creating a climate of fear. “ I agree with Peter. I blame the fascists like ISIS, the Boston bomber, Osama Bin Laden, Al Queda, Boko Haram and Muslim radicals walking down trains in Europe with machine guns.
Good to hear Muslim writers on this post condemning criminals and not supporting extremism. The Surah quoted is interesting in its speaking out against Injustice.
O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted. (4:135)
Regarding racism and human rights it’s interesting that Muslim commentators like Khalid Hamideh,K Hind Makki, Samiha Rahman, etc speak out strongly against the US when racism and human rights abuses are far more common and extreme in Muslim majority countries. Arabs are well known for their inherent racism. Look at the North Sudanese Arab Muslim persecution of non Muslim blacks for example. Look at the atrocities that Indonesia and Islamist militias were responsible for in Timor.
We all need to take responsibility for ourselves and start with our communities.
Mahmud
October 6, 2015 at 2:17 AM
The USA aided the Indonesians in the Chinese genocide. The USA has committed many, many massive slaughters around the world.
Interesting Peace we don’t see you condemning the sick slaughter of the United States but we see you condemning Muslims. Why the double standards? End this hypocrisy.
Peace
October 6, 2015 at 8:19 PM
To Mahmud
The Muslim Indonesians were responsible for the Timorese genocide. Muslim nations have committed many, many massive slaughters around the world. The Mulim Ottomans slaughtered more than a million Armenians. Why the double standards? End this hypocrisy.
STEPHEN PAUL DELSOL
September 22, 2015 at 11:50 AM
THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE
The start of the pipeline is the DISCIPLINARY CODE.
All the BEHAVIORS in it are NEGATIVE. These are labeled as MISDEMEANORS and FELONIES.
Resource Officers are employed to ‘police’ the CODE! Officers are accountable to no one; and great abuse of power takes place.
Students are first and foremost CITIZENS with CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. Their rights are not acknowledged, defended and promoted by SCHOOL BOARDS, PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, RESOURCE OFFICERS, and DEPARTMENTS OF JUVENILE JUSTICE.
When WHITE STUDENTS commit misdemeanors principals usually phone their parents or involve administrators and guidance counselors. The problems are dealt within the school.
When STUDENTS OF COLOR commit the SAME MISDEMEANORS, like ‘disturbing the lesson’ teachers call the RESOURCE OFFICER.
The STUDENTS OF COLOR are HANDCUFFED, irrespective, of the misdemeanor, in full view of their peers. They are put into a van or police car and driven to the DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE and LOCKED UP IN A CELL.
The STUDENTS are not told what their CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS are and they are not represented by an Attorney.
They remain locked up for 24 hours before coming before a SOLICITOR, who DECIDES whether the OFFENSE is SERIOUS enough to be seen by a JUDGE. On average, between 55-60% of these cases are DISMISSED.
THEY ARE USING A SLEDGE HAMMER TO CRACK A NUT!
The PUNISHMENT does NOT FIT the CRIME! It’s UNFAIR! It’s UNJUST!
Over 60% of those PUNISHED in this way are STUDENTS OF COLOR.
STATE Governor, Legislatures, School Boards, principals, teachers, Departments of Juvenile Justice, and especially, RESOURCE OFFICERS are well AWARE of this UNJUST and RACIST SYSTEM and are DOING NOTHING about it.
The PEOPLE IN POWER, who CLAIM to CARE and protect children from HARM are DESTROYING hundreds of thousands of the LIVES of STUDENTS OF COLOR!
What are YOU going to do about it?
farooq
September 22, 2015 at 11:56 AM
jazakallah khayr
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Umm hadi
September 23, 2015 at 12:51 PM
Takabbal Allahu minna wa minkum
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Susan
October 4, 2015 at 8:15 PM
Jazakum Allahu khairan for a most relevant article.
The author wrote that when “we focus on Muslim exceptionalism and fail to see anti-Muslim bigotry as an extension of structural racism, we miss important moments of connecting the Muslim community’s struggles with other oppressed groups. By broadening our vision we can move beyond striving for acceptance, and work towards justice that will uplift Muslims and non-Muslims alike.” This is absolutely true. We are witnessing structural racism and Islamophobia play out on both domestic and international fronts. It is no coincidence that the US has only 5% of the world’s population, but 25% of the world’s incarcerated, who are primarily Black. For every one White male that goes to prison, there are 17 Black males and 5 Latinos. For decades, our national policies such as the so-called War on Crime, War on Drugs and No Child Left Behind (Obama’s The Race To The Top) have been systematically funnelling Black youth out of the country’s worst, most under-funded schools into prison. Meanwhile, the so-called War on Terror has resulted in the horrific annihilation of one in ten Iraqis and the emergence of ISIS in the wake of the hell on earth that is used to be Iraq and has spilled over into Syria. What would we, in the United States do if another country bombed us to bits and killed one-tenth of the population? It is time for the Muslim community to stand against injustice whereever it manifests. The case of Black Muslim Ahmed Mohamed underscores that the struggles for justice are both many and one.
Peace
October 6, 2015 at 8:17 PM
Hello Susan
Yes I agree structural racism is an evil. Also part of the reason for the higher numbers of minorities being incarcerated is due to being socio economically disadvantaged in society they have a offending rate.
However Im not sure why you are bringing the war in Iraq and ISIS into this. This is just fudging the issues. Please remember the war on terror started due to the Islmo- fascist agenda of the likes of Osama Bin Laden and his Al Queda brothers wanting world domination for Islam. This was more than just self defence for them. They will never be satisfied until the black flag of Islam flies over every capital of the world.
Why did the US invade Afghanistan and Iraq? The US invaded Afghanistan as an act of self-defense after 911. Self-defense against the Islamic fascists of Al Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban.
The US invasion of Iraq to remove the tyrant dictator Saddam Hussein was and still is more contentious. However, remember it was in the context of fear after 911, the threat of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction that Saddham Hussein had already used against his own people. Saddham Hussein had proven himself to be a threat to stability of the region.
In the West after the Iraq invasion there were massive rallies in Western cities (tolerated by Western Governments) of millions of people protesting the war. Where are the rallies similar to anything like this in Muslim majority countries? Where are your mass rallies protesting against Islamic fascism?
Please don’t blame the US for ISIS Susan. ISIS is as a result of the failed “Arab Spring”, the inherit violence found in the Quran and Hadith, the Sunni Shiite divide, and the confusion of authority that currently exists in Islam.
You say the US has only 5% of the world’s population, but 25% of the world’s incarcerated. Really? What do you base this on?
Aafia
October 16, 2015 at 5:26 PM
I really appreciate the Quranic reference.
jajakAllah khairan