CAIR, ISNA affecting Hindu American rights in US

ADITYA SATSANGI

Election of Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and other Muslim candidates supported by CAIR and ISNA in the US Congress has thrown a challenge to rights and representation of other religious minorities in the US. Their attempt to impose their Islamic cultural symbols on Americans has posed a threat to the cultural ethos of other religious minorities.

They are also not open to any criticism or correction, while they deserve a right to challenge others. ‘Islamophobia’ is being used extensively to silence all critics.

CAIR and ISNA have publicly been alleged to have terrorist connections. With their published goal to bring Islamic doctrines into politics in the US, they have strategically worked to promote candidates who keep their interests in perspective. With their exclusive Muslim community focus, there is bound to be a more religious and communal polarization within the US Congress.

They have successfully aligned with Leftist Democrats to gain a foothold in American politics. With Democrats aligning with them, it has become a leftist-Islamic doctrine which has the potential to hurt the interests of non-Muslim religious minorities in the US. The historic clash of Judeo-Christian ideology with Islamic ideology is almost inevitable now. That brings Middle Eastern politics to the forefront in the US. This has a far-reaching impact on the future of American politics.

For those who don’t know, CAIR is a Muslim only Civil Rights and Advocacy group established in 1994 in Washington DC, USA. Their anti-Israel bias is well known since their founders had a deep connection with Middle Eastern politics. In 2014, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) banned CAIR as a terrorist organization because of its ties to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. 

ISNA officially came into existence in 1982 with the merger of many Muslim student organizations. Their official goal is to protect Muslim communities and expand Islamic culture in the USA.

ISNA has openly anti-LGBT and anti-Israel views, even though not acknowledged officially. These organizations have successfully projected Islamophobia to gain more rights over other religious minorities and in some cases even over majority Christians.

With their communal focus and indirect entry into American politics, there is bound to be a communal polarization that may be an immediate threat to the interests of Indian-American community. Their demand for special civil rights for their community is a threat to the civil rights of other religious minority communities.

While CAIR and ISNA may not be an immediate threat to non-Muslims in the US today but they have the potential and capacity to bring Middle Eastern ideological conflicts within US. Their ideology is pan-Islamic instead of pan-American. Their indirect entry into political space in the US is worth to be noted.

With the current Muslim community being small, their full impact is not yet seen in the political spectrum, but we can already see a sample in the behavior of just two Congress reps – Ilhan Omar and Rashid Tlaib – affiliated to them. Their community focus has gotten those two politicians elected, which is apparently a success in mainstreaming their ideology.

Their fantastic strategy has been to use women and skin color. These organizations keep the interest of their community above anyone else, which itself is a threat for civil liberties for people outside their community. This is communal politics, which is not good for the world’s largest democracy. Their disrespect to American constitution will be seen in times to come.

Their ultimate goal is Islamic conquest or caliphate in the US even though they may not admit it now publicly. But they are moving in that direction. Their main strategy is to keep their influence over the Muslim community in the USA includes:

• Islamophobia – Islam is under threat in the US
• Muslims are discriminated against in the US
• Differentiation between Muslims and non-Muslims at a social level (promoting hijab in women, food labelling, and so on)
• Controlling discourses in mosques
• Using foreign money to build mosques in the US
• Using global conflicts to polarize their audiences
• Ex-Muslims should not be given any voice (25 per cent of all Muslims in the US)
• Negate calls for reform in Islam
• Blame everything on RSS / BJP and demonize Hindus and their faith Hindutva

RSS is the world’s largest social volunteer organization with no history of any type of violence. BJP is an independent mainstream political organization that has no direct connection with RSS. Muslims’ hatred towards any organized kafir groups defines their hatred towards RSS and BJP.

Confused retired judges like Justice Markanday Katju call BJP as anti-national because they were denied a lucrative position after their retirement. Kafirphobia is driving the campaign of mosques against Hindutva which is a Hindi name for Hinduism. The majority of Hindus love RSS and they have every right to do that. Kafirphobia is a problem of Muslims, not Hindus.

Leftist Democrats in the US have given these mosque leaders a platform and voice at a national level which is a failure for Democrats. Instead of working for national integration and promoting a common American Value system, democrats have allowed themselves to be used by these communal organizations in their apparent zeal to capture votes.

This is itself an ideological crisis for traditional Democratic Party. This is an ideological attack on American exceptionalism and American leadership in the world. Democrats have moved away from a national narrative to be played into communal narratives which will hurt the U in the long run. More mainstream Democrats have already begun to question the ethos and long term future of the national party. The election loss of leading Democratic candidates in 2016 has morphed into hatred of everything American.

While some leftist Democrats may have thought to promote communal politics as an excellent way to capture votes, they, however, failed to analyze long term impact for the US as a country. The US was founded on the promise for freedom which is under threat by these communal politics.

Democrats have to analyze the long-term impact of communal politics on a nation founded on the ideals of freedom and liberty for all. Democrats should be wise enough to see the impact of political correctness in Europe. The price of political correctness is paid by innocents and weak.

Hindu Americans have contributed immensely to the growth of the American economy in all spheres of life. Hindu Americans have brought yoga, vegetarianism and ayurveda to the centerfold in American lifestyle which has helped millions.

Hindu American doctors, researchers and entrepreneurs have enriched American society in many ways both financially and culturally. Today Indian-Americans are the richest community in the USA. Sikh, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil communities from India which came to US from as far back as the mid-1800s have fully integrated themselves with American society in a wonderful way as have other communities from India while retaining their cultural ethos.

We don’t find any community from India attempting to impose their cultural views on Americans in complete disregard of the American way of life. Indian-origin politicians have worked for all communities without discriminating anyone on religious or community basis.

However, with the rise of Muslim focused politicians in US politics, the Hindu American community has to analyze ways to protect them against any cultural imposition by these communal politicians. With population between 4.5-6 million, Indian-Americans have to be ready to politically assert themselves for their rights and culture while retaining progressive outlook to make US stronger and contributing to American exceptionalism and innovation.

With the rise of communal politics in the US, there is a need to unite all Hindu origin people under one umbrella coalition organization to forcefully protect their culture and innovation. An American umbrella organization for all Hindus both American and South Asian origin is a great vehicle to initiate a controlled dialogue.

Sikhs, Jains, Hindus, Buddhists, and any other religious minority with common dharmic roots need to have a voice in a united way in the congress and senate. The key goals for this umbrella organization can be to

• Protect Hindu American community from communal groups such as CAIR/ISNA
• Promote Hindu American entrepreneurs that contribute to the growth of the US
• Protect and promote dharmic cultural and spiritual values
• Promote mainstream media visibility of Hindu American or Indian-American views
• Promote politicians that protect interests and aspirations of Hindu Americans

With American politics changing because of demographic and external influences, Hindu Americans have to take political and community initiatives to protect their interests. The growth of the Indian community in the US will now be directly proportional to the protection of their Hindu faith related interests.

(The views expressed are personal.)