Muslim group begins voter registration drive at St. Louis mosqu

ST. LOUIS -- After the call to prayer, the call to vote is going out to Muslims in the St. Louis area -- and around the nation.

The nation's largest Muslim rights group is registering voters to give a stronger, more united political voice to the estimated 7 million Muslims living in the United States

This past Friday, organizers registered Muslim voters at two St. Louis-area mosques. It is part of a nationwide effort to sign up 1 million new voters for next year's election.

"We believe by casting a unified vote on the local and national level that we ensure the Muslim community is part and parcel of the political system," said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Volunteers from the group's St. Louis chapter visited the Daar-Ul-Islam mosque in west St. Louis County and a mosque on the campus of St. Louis University.

The goal is to register 1,000 voters. The group also is seeking demographic data on Muslim registered voters.

"All political power comes from the local level," said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman in the council's Washington office. "Unless you have grass-roots support, you're not going to have impact at a national level."

In addition to mainstream issues such as tax cuts and health care, Muslims in the United States are interested in civil rights and the defense of civil liberties, particularly because of policy changes enacted since Sept. 11, 2001, Awad said.

"To create a balance between safety and security and civil liberties is critical for our nation," Awad said. "Our community has suffered tremendously from civil rights abuses. Employment discrimination, detentions, surveillance, the policy of counting mosques. These are important issues that we bring to the table."

Hooper said people frequently note the absence of any Muslim serving in Congress. But he said opportunity for real change begins locally.

"I don't think that's as important as having a Muslim city council person, or a Muslim on the county board or the PTA board," Hooper said. "The local level will have the most impact of offering a positive image of the Muslim experience in America."