ISNA Addresses Changing US Muslim Narrative

Sunday September 6, 2015

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CHICAGO – Addressing challenges facing the American Muslim community, Muslims convening in ISNA's annual convention, held in Chicago, think it is critical to define themselves and create their own authentic narratives to offer correct image for their community.

“There has been a decline in favorability of Muslims from 35% to 27% in 2014, according to a 2014 Zogby poll,” Maha Elgenaidi, CEO and chairman at ING (Islamic Networks Group) told the session in her introductory remarks.

“According to a 2014 Pew poll, Muslims rated ‘most negatively’ in sentiments of all religious groups," she added.

The engaging session, held on Saturday, September 5, highlighted projects promoting alternate narratives, including documentary films and books on Muslim heroes.

Daniel Tutt of Unity Productions Foundation (UPF), which has a mission of creating peace through the media, noted that Islamophobia affects all Americans.

“Americans are fundamentally good people,” said Tutt. “Only 45% know Muslims personally, so most people know of Muslims through media.”

Speaking of the work of UPF in countering negative stereotyping of Muslims, he said, “We offer programs to humanize Muslims by creating documentary films.”

Ameena Jandali, a founding member of Islamic Networks Group (ING), warned that ISIL is defining the perception of Islam and Muslims among Americans.

“Everyone knows Islam through ISIL,” she said. “This is unprecedented compared to previous decades.”

“There are certain frames that define the narrative,” Jandali added.

“The solution is to present diverse images of Muslims, identify commonalities and shared experiences with Americans, and highlight contributions of Muslims.”

ING (Islamic Networks Group) is a respected American non-profit organization with affiliates throughout the country that counter prejudice and discrimination against American Muslims.

The theme of changing the perception of Islam and Muslims ran throughout Saturday’s session.

According to ISNA, “This year’s convention theme is designed to highlight the different challenges facing American Muslims today and the critical need to shape the Muslim community.”

Social Activism

Another session during the ISNA convention looked at how Muslim communities in the West can change stereotyping by engaging in social activism and in movements such as the Labor movement.

Congressman Keith Ellison reminded the participants that Muslims are already part of the Labor movement.

“We are already part of the Labor movement,” he said. “We’ve to get out of our mind that the American Muslim community are all cardiologists.”

Maimuna Syed, who has over 8 years of experience in the labor movement, reminded the session that Labor is a significant group in the country.

“Our membership is increasingly diverse,” she said. “The Labor movement is the largest civil rights organization in the country.”

Saturday concluded with a plenary session with inspirational presentations by popular American Muslim scholars, Suhaib Webb, Omar Suleiman, Yasir Qadhi, Nouman Ali Khan about stories of resilience and the lessons from which Muslims can learn.

An Islamic Film Festival, an Art and Photography Exhibit, a National Qira'at Competition, a Matrimonial Banquet, a women’s Fashion Show, Meet the Author sessions and a Health Fair is running throughout the 4-day event, and large crowds are visiting the bazaar which features 500 vendors.

Concurrent to the ISNA Convention, parallel conferences are being held by the ISNA affiliated organizations - the Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA), Association of Muslim Scientists, Engineers and Technology Professionals (AMSET), Muslim Students Association (MSA) and Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA).

ISNA is the largest Muslim umbrella organization in North America.

ISNA's four-day annual convention which concludes on Monday dates back to 1963, when the first such event was organized by the predecessor to ISNA, the Muslim Students Association of the United States and Canada.

Over the years, the convention has increased in popularity and consistently draws crowds of up to 40,000 Muslims in attendance each year.

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