Muslim Faith Leaders Endorse Kamala Harris Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict

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In an open letter shared first with NBC News, a group of 25 imams has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, providing her with much-needed support from a community that has grown frustrated with the administration's handling of the Israel-Hamas war. As Harris ramps up efforts to win back disaffected Muslim voters, the endorsement represents a critical boost, especially in battleground states like Michigan, where the Muslim and Arab vote could play a decisive role.

 

Muslim and Arab voters have expressed significant anger toward the Biden administration for its continued support of Israel’s actions in Gaza. However, the imams who signed the letter argue that, despite these frustrations, supporting Harris is still the best choice. They emphasize that Muslim voters must make logical voting decisions, writing that backing Harris “far outweighs the harms of the other options.” The imams also described Harris as “a committed ceasefire candidate” and highlighted her as the best option for ending the violence in Gaza and Lebanon.

 

The letter warns against supporting former President Donald Trump, whom they consider a threat to the Muslim community. “Knowingly enabling someone like Donald Trump to return to office, whether by voting directly for him or for a third-party candidate, is both a moral and a strategic failure,” they wrote. They cautioned that in swing states, a vote for a third-party candidate could lead to Trump winning the state and potentially the election.

 

The imams also noted Trump’s “well-documented history of harming our communities and country” and urged Muslim voters not to let high emotions dictate their decisions in a way that would harm the community. They emphasized the need to act responsibly, stating, “We have a responsibility, an Amana, not to place our community in harm’s way.”

 

The endorsement is significant given that Harris has struggled to gain prominent allies within the Muslim community. Many Muslim organizations and leaders have either withheld their endorsements or supported anti-war third-party candidates like Jill Stein and Cornel West. Other groups have even launched movements like Abandon Harris, aimed at punishing Democrats for their staunch backing of Israel. Some critics have accused Harris of abandoning the Muslim and Arab American community, pointing to instances such as the denial of a Palestinian speaker at the Democratic National Convention and the 700,000 voters who cast “uncommitted” ballots in protest of President Joe Biden’s policies during the Democratic primaries.

 

Mohamed Elsanousi, a Muslim community leader who helped organize the pro-Harris letter, emphasized that most of the 25 signatories are permanent imams with sizable congregations, including some in swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina. He expressed hope that the letter would encourage conflicted Muslim voters to feel more comfortable voting for Harris, despite opposition from some prominent Muslim voices. “I am really hopeful that with this letter a lot of people will change their minds,” Elsanousi said. “The momentum [for Harris] in the community is growing.”

 

This endorsement follows Harris’s recent outreach efforts, including a meeting with Muslim community leaders in Michigan and a virtual event addressed by her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, aimed at boosting Muslim voter turnout. Her national security adviser also met with Arab and Muslim community leaders in Washington. Nasrina Bargzie, the director of Muslim and Arab American outreach for the Harris campaign, reiterated Harris’s commitment to winning over every voter and uniting the country. She added that Harris had consistently supported the country’s diverse Muslim community, working to ensure that they live free from “the hateful policies of the Trump administration.”

 

Based on a report from NBC News 2024-10-08

 

 

 

[spidermike007]

As well they should, it is well known that Trump is an unconditional supporter of Israel and a racist, so the idea of clearing Palestine completely off the map appears to be something that appeals to him. With Harris there will be a more humanitarian approach, and hopefully she will be willing to push back against extremist and genocidal Israeli policy. 

 

Don't get started with any nonsense here, I hate Hamas, and Hezbollah, and terrorists, but there has to be a limit as to how many women and children Israel is willing to kill to achieve a result. There's also a major question about whether or not any long-term results can be achieved through their current actions and wars.