The Muslim Brotherhood in North America - Research Paper Example

The Muslim Brotherhood In North America Issue of political Islamic settlers in a system of independent pluralism as well as responsible citizenship in the present era of globalization is vital as the Muslim brotherhood begin to behave like serious political actor. Participation of the Muslim brotherhood in civic matters as a social movement with broad objectives is considered significant for their growth (“Underground History”). Muslim Brotherhood has an immense following in the Arab world as well as the Arab community in the western world that includes numerous supporters who have obtained citizenship in the US (Lopez Web). Practical politics of the Muslim brotherhood in the US have had some impact on the American domestic scene as well as the way US deals with the Islamic world. This writing traces the development of the Muslim Brotherhood and tests the movement’s readiness to conform to the rules of the emerging American society. In achieving strong union, it is not advisable to sacrifice liberty to attain unity. Although it is always necessary to attain a strong union, liberty is equally important and therefore it should not be neglected. A strong union may be triggered by economic reasons such as unequal distribution of wealth or the zeal for different religious beliefs or perhaps an attachment to different leaders who are contending for power, which may largely divide a society. Some scholars argue that unity can only be achieved when diversity is respected as this implies the paradox of democratic life. Despite the fact that independent systems are always desirable in a democratic world, their freedom and independence may somehow entitle them to do harm. It is worth noting that globalization has made America to become part of the world as the world as also turned out to be part of America although the challenge with the American democracy may not live up to expectations if citizenship becomes meaningless. According to Lopez Muslim Brotherhood is an oldest and the most influential Islamist movement founded in Egypt in 1928 and was strongly opposed to colonial rule (Web). Muslim Brotherhood based its discourse on Islam and believed that Islam is the only answer to Western military, political, economic as well as cultural influence in the Muslim world. The movement used a modern method of political ideas to mobilize support and spread across the world. In US, the nucleus, which began with the Muslim Student Association in the 1960s, laid numerous movements such as Islamic Association of North America as well as the Council on American Islamic Relations that had a common financial sources and occasional participation in common initiatives (Vidino Web). The groups included affluent, well connected, highly educated and motivated leaders with strong followers whom US authorities reach out to when seeking to engage the Muslim Community. Brotherhood movement have access to government because of the dynamics and although they have ideological ties with the middle east they are independent. Many organizations are currently linked with the Muslim Brotherhood and in the past decades, they have changed their tactics and objectives (“DiscoverTheNetwork” Web). “DiscoverTheNetwork” posit that the Brotherhoods’ goal to the west is very different and some critics posit that they intend to impose sharia law in the west (Web). One of the movement’s goals in the US is to preserve Islamic identity amongst American Muslims through a conservatism and openness approach without applying g isolation. Moreover, Muslim Brotherhood normally wants to be designated as an official representative of the Muslim community of America although there unrelenting in activism has not attracted many members. Most American Muslims usually ignore the movements’ claims thus prompting the organization to associate with the American elites who may financially support them and provide political support as well as legitimacy. They deemed it necessary to connect with elites so that they can influence and expand their growth in America. Lopez explains that the American government is divided between the optimists and the pessimists regarding the Muslim Brotherhood (Web). It is apparent that there are two extreme forces amongst the policy making community that include the pessimists and the optimists. The optimists argue that the movements are a social conservative movement that empowers Muslim faithful maintain their faith and actively engage in their normal activities as Americans (“DiscoverTheNetwork” Web). Optimists argue that the government should not view Muslim Brotherhood suspiciously instead; the government need to support their grassroots activities and collaborate with the movement on crucial issues such as terrorism and radicalization which are a big concern in the Muslim world. Pessimists view the Muslim Brotherhood in a more threatening way that is intended to engage in a slow but constant social engineering program intended to Islamize the American population. The pessimists feel that the movement will compete with the American government for their allegiance in the long-run and that there non-violence and democratic approach is a cold calculation on their part (Lopez Web). They assert that the movement thinks it is wise to infiltrate the system of government rather than attacking it since the latter approach may hinder them from achieving their target. They well understand that the al Qaeda technique cannot work in America and they tend to use the method, which was previously used by the Communist party in the last decades to carry out their mission (Nimer Web). The case in Philadelphia stands out as one of the largest terrorism financing case in America associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. The case which was tried in Texas against a charity organization known as Holy Land Foundation that collected millions of dollars to help Palestinian orphans although it was meant to aid Hamas. The money was used to fund terrorist operations in the Palestinian and Israel territories and the Department of Justice established a close relationship between the Brotherhood and the charity (“Underground History” Web). There were meetings that were held between top Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood leaders in 1993 at a Marriot Hotel near Philadelphia International Airport immediately after the Oslo Agreement. The meeting was meant to ensure continuation of Islam activities being that Hamas was going to be designated a terrorist organization and this prompted difference in the Brotherhood’s strategy both internally and externally. The movement finally promised to maintain their support for Hamas through fund collection that led to formation of Holy Land Formation while seeking to spread hatred of Israel and Jews amongst the American Muslim community (Vidino Web). Dealing with the Muslim Brotherhood organizations is very complex because of incorporation of politics and a religion that is not popular amongst policy makers. It is worth noting that the US has a lot of sensitivity when it comes to handling a religion in a political perspective considering that the movement shows moderation and pro-integration which US seeks amongst Muslims (Nimer Web). Nevertheless, it is apparent that they have some secret agenda, which are not pro American liberal democracy, and this puts policymakers in a bind. Vidino asserts that the pessimists believe that the movement should be deterred from any engagement because the organization is just deceitful actors intending to destroy same freedom they have enjoyed (Web). The pessimists think that the Brotherhood movement ought to be marginalized or be outlawed because they are a political wing of the current global Islamism insurgency though this position is unrealistically and arguably dangerous. The Muslim Brotherhood’s acts are consistent with the law and therefore pose as a reality, which cannot be neglected. Supporters of the movement are the best partners that can be used to promote and favour integration and stem radicalization although this may be problematic. “American Foreign Policy Council” explains that the moderation by the Muslim Brotherhood has never changed the stand of US government on Islamic movements particularly after the organization quickly condemned the 9/11 (Web). Numerous pro-independence sentiments have been heard to demand a strong show of loyalty to Muslims but the community underwent intense scrutiny and the law enforcement agencies viewed the movement with skepticism. Islamic movements and foreign attachments are recognized as potential sources of threat and the eventual test of loyalty depends on the reaction of the movement to the US projection of power amongst Muslim majority states. According to Vidino most of the Brotherhood actions in different countries such as Kuwait, Gulf War and Iraq have always aligned themselves with the US although there is a feeling that the American movement would affect its objectives (Web). Law actions after 9/11 were directed to the groups which were affiliated to the Brotherhood but the movement seek legal protections that recognizes the legality of American constitutional democracy. Generally, the Muslim Brotherhood have represented themselves as a collective voice that move Islam into responsible American citizenship through jumping into fray of politics and gaining acceptance by the public (“American Foreign Policy Council” Web). They have grounded themselves as an American reality and are making every effort to ignore public perception of suspicion directed at them. However, the outright “Islamophobia” has emerged as an obstacle, which makes most Americans not to believe that the Muslim Brotherhood is a good movement (Vidino Web). It is therefore upon the movement to respond and eliminate the increasing fears of citizens who do know understand them. The nervous response of the movement to the public question may be attributed to the insecurity that they phased in their initial phase of appearance such as hostile public depictions. The American Muslim brotherhood needs to behave like serious political actor, which will largely help it in its pursuance to civic involvement. Works Cited “American Foreign Policy Council.” Muslim Brotherhood, 2013. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. . “DiscoverTheNetwork.” The Muslim Brotherhood's "General Strategic Goal" For North America, 2012. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. . “Underground History.” Sharia Watch: Muslim Brotherhood, 2010. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. . Lopez, Clare. History of the Muslim Brotherhood Penetration of the U.S. Government. Gatestone Institute, 15 April 2013. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. . Nimer, Mohamed. "The Muslim Brotherhood in America: Citizens With Foreign Attachments?" Middle East Policy17.4 (2010): 144-56. Proquest. Web. 6 Dec. . Vidino, Lorenzo. Muslim Brotherhood Organizations in America: Goals, Ideologies, and Strategies. Foreign Policy Research Institute, 2011. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. . Read More