A declaration last week by a European Muslim academic that he would indefinitely abstain from several North American Muslim conferences and conventions because of a perceived political apathy on global crises, such as in Gaza and elsewhere, has sparked intense and important debate on the role of North American Muslim -- and, for the purpose of this piece, American Muslim -- community organizations.
In order to forge stronger community progress while not seeking to restrict the right to activism on contentious humanitarian issues, one must undeniably consider what the overarching priorities of many of these community organizations must be. American Muslims have indeed lived in the United States since the nation's founding, and there have been impressive Muslim individuals and organizations that have constructively impacted both domestic and foreign policy and served as leaders within various movements, including civil rights in the 1960s, as well as prior. This cannot be overlooked, nor should credit for these historic efforts be understated.
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