MAS-MD Holds Fundraiser In Wake of Increased Islamophobia

Community News - Community News

Written by Hiba Akhtar

Saturday, 28 August 2010 05:57

“Justice is not easy. It does not come easy. But things can be done to bring forth justice,” said keynote speaker Ibrahim Ramey during the annual fundraising dinner for the Maryland chapter of the Muslim American Society.

The event, held on Aug. 21 in the Germantown Recreation Center in Germantown, Md., titled “Standing up to Islamophobia: A Fundraiser to Promote Tolerance and Understanding”, included presentations and speeches which addressed concerns about a “rapidly decreasing” perception of Islam in the United States.

According to Ramey, Muslims today are the victims of an “orchestrated political attack” by mainstream American media. Ramey referred to the media controversy and backlash surrounding the proposed Park 51 mosque to be located blocks away from the site where the World Trade Center once stood, as evidence for his claim.

“We grieve for the loss of life on 9/11 just like we grieve for the loss of life in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Ramey, who also serves as Director for Human and Civil Rights at the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation. “But what we’re seeing now is unlike anything we’ve seen before. After 9/11 President Bush called Islam a religion of peace. Today we are hearing about people shouting ‘terrorist’ outside of mosques and sisters being forced to remove their hijabs. ”

The Muslim American Society, or MAS, a national organization with local chapters throughout the country, advocates individual personal development through an Islamic curriculum focused on community service, interfaith dialogues, and youth programs. It is one of the few American Islamic organizations which also partakes in political activism. Ramey himself often serves as a guest commentator on various news programs, including Fox News and PBS.

According to MAS-MD president Marwan Oweis, the need for an organization like MAS in Maryland is stronger now than ever.

“It’s important to stand for justice, but I think we need to instill change from our communities. We need to step back and ask ourselves how we as Muslims got to this point,” said Oweis. “Are we helping with neighborhood associations? Are we engaging in society? The outrage we Muslims are seeing now is an indication that we’re not doing enough in our communities.”

MAS-MD has taken some steps to encourage Muslims to be invested in their communities, and to provide a solid support system for Muslim youth. Currently, MAS-MD organizes an annual summer camp for teenagers and young adults, weekly Islamic lecture series, and has even started a Girl Scout Troop, Troop 3797, of which Iman Abdulmalik, 14, is a member.

“Being part of my troop encouraged me to have really high morals for myself,” said Abdulmalik, who said she volunteered to help serve food at the fundraiser because of the lessons on volunteering she learned with her troop. “We did a project to help get clean water to needy people in Ethiopia, and that helped us get our name out there as Muslims.

“One of my favorite days was the community service day. We helped clean some neighborhoods of trash,” said another Girl Scout in attendance.

Aug. 21’s fundraiser was a success, according to MAS-MD secretary Ehab Hassan, who said the event was attended by more than twice the expected number of people. “More people means more energy,” said Hassan. “We were expecting half of the number of people who showed up, but there is barakah in everything and we had more than enough food and room for everyone.”

The event attracted newcomers like Erum Marfani, who said she had heard of MAS before but had never attended a MAS event. “I’m here tonight because I feel an obligation to support organizations which give Muslims a voice,” she said. “I still don’t know many details about MAS, but I’m hoping that my support brings a positive difference in our community.”