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Muslim-American
Leaders Intensify Youth Outreach Initiatives |
Posted:
08.15.05
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A coalition of national and community-based Muslim groups have
announced an anti-terror campaign geared toward Muslim-American
youth.
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The announcement comes on the heels of the recent attacks on
London's mass transit system carried out by British-born suicide
bombers, which raised concerns about the vulnerability of American-born
Muslim youth to recruitment by terrorist groups.
"I think if anything what London has shown is that we're
all vulnerable. Young people who are very passionate and open
are always vulnerable to madmen and extremists," said Mahdi
Bray, executive director of the Muslim American Society Freedom
Foundation.
"We're not immune to that, so we have to be vigilant. It
requires a lot of community effort."
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Young Muslim-Americans
mobilize |
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Following the second attempted terrorist attack in London, the
Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Islamic Society of North
America issued a statement on behalf of young Muslim-Americans
condemning the distortion of Islam into an ideology of hatred.
"This afternoon, the world witnessed a second terrorist
attack on London. In light of these hostile events, we Muslim
American students and youth stand united in condemning all acts
of terror and the burgeoning war on ideas. We refuse to remain
silent while others claiming to represent Islam preach an ideology
of hatred."
 The
statement was signed by over 50 Muslim student and community groups
nationwide and marks the beginning of the first national campaign
launched by Muslim youth.
Though still in the developmental stages, the group has drafted
a vision statement and hopes to use Internet outreach, youth summits,
and other activities to encourage young Muslims to be involved,
politically and socially, in their communities.
"I think a lot of times there are members of the community
that really fall into a mentality where it's almost like it's
us versus them. We want this to be a diversification process,"
Amin Al-Sarras, a college student and leader of the new initiative,
said.
Al-Sarras also serves as D.C. project coordinator for the Muslim
Public Affairs Council.
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Youth outreach
initiatives |
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Other national youth outreach initiatives are in the works around
the country.
The Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit organization
that represents the needs of the Islamic community, is prioritizing
funding for youth activities.
The group currently runs eight free-standing Muslim youth centers
in different cities and has plans in the works to open six more.
 They
will also encourage more mosques to be involved in the Boy and
Girl Scouts, broaden recruitment efforts for youth outreach workers,
and train psychiatrists and psychologists to work with Muslim
youth.
In an effort to increase dialogue and activity within Muslim
families, the foundation also plans to sponsor more parent-youth
retreats.
Mahdi Bray, the MAS Freedom Foundation's executive director,
emphasizes the importance of open communication for pre-teens,
teens and adults.
"I'm always worried about teen alienation. Would it have
made a difference if the kids from Columbine had someone to talk
to?" Bray said.
Next month, thousands of Muslim-Americans will gather in Chicago
for the Islamic Society of North America's annual convention.
Organizers are planning a special session on terrorism and extremism,
which will also be a central theme at the ISNA's concurrent youth
conference.
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American
or Muslim |
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Muslim leaders are aware that there are unique issues facing
American-born Muslims struggling to balance the values of American
society with the teachings of Islam.
For some, carving out an identity that incorporates both religion
and culture can be challenging and confusing.
"The most predominant feeling is confusion. It's like someone
is saying one thing about what it means to be a Muslim and someone
else is saying another," Al-Sarras said.
But Al-Sarras emphasizes that American life and Islam do not
conflict.
 "There
is no friction between American society and Islam. The problem
comes when pop culture icons are being defined as what it means
to being American. There's so much more to our culture than that,
and we have to realize that," Al-Sarras said.
In an effort to integrate Islam and American culture, the Muslim
American Society Freedom Foundation plans to increase its offering
of scholarships to Muslim-American youth interested in pursuing
theological studies. Their hope is that these young theology scholars
will be future Imams, Islamic religious leaders, who have grown
up in the United States and understand the young Muslim-American
community.
"We need Americans who were born here, who watched MTV and
understand American culture to be Imams," Bray said. "We
need the authentic American Islamic voice. It's unique."
--
Compiled by Monica Villavicencio for NewsHour Extra
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