Muslim Rep. Criticizes US Counter-terrorism Agenda

Ellison’s comments were expressed during a White House summit held on February 18 on countering violent extremism.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

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CAIRO – America’s first Muslim congressman has publicly rebuked the Obama administration’s terrorism strategy, arguing that a failure to prosecute hate crimes fuelled the narrative that America was at war with Islam.

“The violent extremist makes the case that America is at war with Islam and Muslims, and we have to assert that this is not true; not just in word, but in deed,” Keith Ellison, who represents a Minnesota district with the highest Muslim population in the US, drawing applause from an audience of Muslim community leaders at the White House, The Guardian reported.

“The reason we are susceptible to violent extremism is that we have not deepened opportunity enough ... economic deprivation makes people susceptible to being lured and seduced,” Ellison said.

“But the other part is social and legal deprivation as well.”

Ellison’s comments were expressed during a White House summit held on February 18 on countering violent extremism.

During the summit, US vice-president Joe Biden’s claimed the US was more experienced than Europe at preventing extremism because of its history as a immigrant nation.

US President Barack Obama has also urged people from different faiths to unite with Muslims against terrorism, adding that Muslims have the responsibility to fight a misconception that terrorist groups speak for them.

The congressman said he joined the summit with the “sole purpose of ringing the alarm bell” over a recent decision to prevent US banks handling money transfers to Somalia.

According to US government, the move was claimed to prevent funding of terrorist groups operating in east Africa.

Yet, it was met by condemnations from development experts for cutting off an estimated $215m in annual remittances to Somali families from their relatives in the US.

“On February 6, our financial services system stopped working with Somali money-wiring services to send money to Somalia,” said Ellison.

“This is important because in the region, the violent extremist wants to be able to say ‘See, they won’t even let your relatives send you money.’ They want to be able to say that and we have got to be able to stop them from saying that.”

Countering Hate

Ellison joined a chorus of voices expressing concern at the slow response from US government and people to the murder of three Muslim students.

“It’s important that law enforcement prosecute hate crimes against Muslims … It’s important that we at least admit that what happened in Chapel Hill probably was not only about a parking space,” said Ellison.

“This defies our sense of logic and common sense. This actually helps to support the false narrative of violent extremism; they want to make the case that America hates you, is against you, join us.”

“Razan, Yusor and Deah – the three victims – were living, walking, breathing examples of countering violent extremism until their lives were taken away,” added the congressman.

“Let us not slip into a mistaken idea that terrorism is somehow a Muslim idea.”

The summit, which was addressed by Barack Obama later on Wednesday and Thursday, was also attended by the mayor of Paris, and British home secretary Theresa May.

Ellison concluded it was important the democracies show equal treatment to their citizens if they wish to avoid radicalizing disaffected young minorities.

“The best defense to violent extremism is to adhere to our values. So that when a young person who could go one way or another is walking around Minneapolis wondering ‘What should I do’, and they are hearing that America’s at war with Islam and maybe that’s true because I don’t have a job and I can’t send money to my family … if we adhere [to our values], respect the faith of all and include more people we will have a safer, better community,” he said.

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