Participants in this year's conference, whose theme is
"American Muslims: Part of America," showed the pressures of
this age of increased FBI surveillance. Many shunned media
interviews, fearing they might invite police scrutiny of their
activities.
"We're particularly pleased that you have decided to come out
as Americans," Eric Vickers, director of the American Muslim
Council, told them during an orientation session Thursday.
The list of issues for which they seek political attention is
long: a Palestinian state, Iraq, Kashmir, new FBI surveillance
tactics and racial profiling of Muslims since Sept. 11.
"I think it will be tough," said Ali Al-Ahmed, director of the
Saudi Institute, a pro-democracy group. "There has been a
realization that we need to resolve our internal issues and
deal with the world, America specifically, in a very clear and
concise manner. But with a weak community, you can't do the
job you need to do."
About 50 people took part in Thursday's session, sitting
quietly in a House meeting room to bone up on the basics of
talking to elected officials and using federal
anti-discrimination laws to protect their rights.
The citizen-lobbyists also got the Islamic perspective on the
need for a Palestinian state, the tumult between India and
Pakistan over Kashmir and the failures of the oil-for-food
program in Iraq.
"I've never done anything like this before, so I'm out here to
watch and learn from the people who have the experience," said
Zayed Yasin, 22, of Scituate, Mass., who found himself at the
center of controversy for using the term "jihad" in his
Harvard University commencement speech.
"It's part of living in this country. Every community that has
issues important to it needs to be involved in the political
process to get those issues addressed," Yasin said, adding
self-consciously, "I haven't been that good about it either."
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