New York: At the Islamic Cultural Center on Riverside Drive in New York City, hundreds of Muslims from nearby areas attend Friday prayers. One of the main ‘dua’ recited after the prayers is for the people of Gaza.
Ali, a corporate professional, prays here regularly, especially on Fridays. He says international issues are overshadowing the community’s domestic concerns in the run-up to the November 5 presidential elections.
“There are a lot of issues, but I don’t think any issue is even close to what we are seeing in Gaza. A large part of the Muslim community is not feeling comfortable with the words and actions of the candidates,” he said.
“The mainstream position in the Democratic Party is such that they use words and actions that are afraid of angering the pro-Israel side. I must say the lack of compassion and empathy is very disappointing,” he said.
In this presidential election, Muslims in New York are grappling with a complex political landscape. The community appears to be weighing its concerns on both domestic and international issues.
The situation in Gaza is one of the top issues that members of this influential voting bloc are concerned about. Many of them have clearly expressed their disappointment with how the Democratic government has dealt with the situation in West Asia.
“For us, the situation in Gaza is very important. The war must end, and we don’t see the current system doing much around that,” says Waqas, a resident of Long Island, New York.
Other issues like abortion rights and even LGBTQ are also worrisome, but Gaza is the most worrisome right now. A recent survey conducted by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) in three swing states (Georgia, Pennsylvania and Michigan) found that the war on Gaza is a top policy concern for a majority of Muslim voters (61 per cent). It also noted that it is the top issue for Muslims across all genders, ages, races and party lines.
Muslim American voters in New York, like their counterparts across the country, are prioritizing the Gaza crisis in their voting decisions for the upcoming presidential election. It wouldn’t be too far-fetched to say that the devastating conflict has become a defining issue and has the potential to reshape traditional voting patterns.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a recent post on X that American Muslims will have “considerable influence” on the election. “Our community is engaged. Now is the time to show the power of American Muslim voices in this important election,” the post said.
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