Muslims for Trump: The race for America's Islamic vote

Despite being a relatively small constituency, Muslim voters in the United States could have a key role in the presidential election.

The number of swing states in the US is notoriously low and some, such as Florida and Virginia, have small but potentially significant Muslim populations which could prove decisive come the November polls.

Trump has won the battle against Ted Crux for evangelical votes. Now can he win the battle with Clinton for Muslim votes? Reuters

At least that is what the US Council of Muslim Organisations thinks. It's spearheading a drive to encourage Muslims to register, in an effort to stop Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, becoming President.

"We want the Muslim community to understand that if you give up your rights voluntarily, no one will come and give it back to you," said Osama Abu Irshaid, a member of the group's board. Imams and other Muslim leaders have been asked to encourage congregations to vote and a campaign has run since December throughout college campuses, bus stations and petrol stations in neighbourhoods with a high proportion of Muslims.

It began to combat an "unprecedented rise in Islamophobia," said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). According to CAIR's database, 300,000 Muslims have registered to vote since November. The target is one million.

But they have opponents within the American-Islamic community.

Sajid Tarar, a businessman from Baltimore, has established a "Muslims for Trump" support group. In a move that surprised many core voters and GOP delegates, Tarar gave a speech and prayed for Trump on the main stage at the Republican National Convention this week.

Scores of delegates walked out and one man was told to be quiet when he heckled "no Islam!" during the speech.

Trump has far from ingratiated himself to America's Islamic community. One of the few outright policy suggestions the New York billionaire has announced is a "total and complete shutdown on Muslims entering the United States". And it is that suggestion which has helped him win such a groundswell of support among grassroot Republicans.

In a debate in December he said: "They're not coming to this country if I'm president. And if Obama has brought some to this country they are leaving, they're going, they're gone."

Last month he watered down the suggestion and said immigrants from countries "where there is a proven history of terrorism" would be blocked from entry. But he is still far from shy in his anti-Islam rhetoric.

However for Tarer, that is one of the reasons he supports Trump. Radical Islam "is not only a threat to Western civilisation, it's a threat to Islam itself," he said.

"ISIS, al Qaeda, Taliban, they have killed more Muslims than anything else, and that's a message Muslims need to hear and understand."

In an interview with Fusion, he said there was no contradiction for Muslims to support Trump. "The Quran says you need to be loyal to the country where you live," he said. "We have to do every possible thing to make our country safe." He has said he is not adverse to the surveillance of mosques, one of Trump's suggested policies, and supports a temporary ban on Muslim immigration.

He is not alone. According to a poll last month from CAIR, 11 per cent of American Muslims back Trump.

Michael Cohen is the co-chair of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump which aims to bring in minority support for the candidate. He said American Muslims were just as worried about terror in the US as other citizens.

He told Reuters Trump is "the only candidate who will enhance our national security, bring jobs back to America and fix our ailing economy".

In his speech to the GOP convention, Tarer said: "Let's pray to get our country back."

He added: "The values reflected by our leader must reflect the values of our forefathers.

"God bless America, God bless you, God bless Donald Trump."

If Tarer has his way, the most virilant anti-Islam candidate could be winning the support of millions of Muslims. 

related articles
What would Ronald Reagan say to Donald Trump and the 2016 Republican Convention?
What would Ronald Reagan say to Donald Trump and the 2016 Republican Convention?

What would Ronald Reagan say to Donald Trump and the 2016 Republican Convention?

How Donald Trump weaponised prayer at the Republican National Convention
How Donald Trump weaponised prayer at the Republican National Convention

How Donald Trump weaponised prayer at the Republican National Convention

Westboro protests amid chaotic scenes at Republican Convention
Westboro protests amid chaotic scenes at Republican Convention

Westboro protests amid chaotic scenes at Republican Convention

Sorry Republicans, but you do not have a monopoly on Christian faith
Sorry Republicans, but you do not have a monopoly on Christian faith

Sorry Republicans, but you do not have a monopoly on Christian faith

Mike Pence: the evangelical former Catholic who may yet save Donald Trump
Mike Pence: the evangelical former Catholic who may yet save Donald Trump

Mike Pence: the evangelical former Catholic who may yet save Donald Trump

Ted Cruz defends refusal to endorse Trump: I\'m not a \'servile puppy dog\'
Ted Cruz defends refusal to endorse Trump: I'm not a 'servile puppy dog'

Ted Cruz defends refusal to endorse Trump: I'm not a 'servile puppy dog'

News
The story of the pope known as the Apostle to the English
The story of the pope known as the Apostle to the English

Pope Gregory I, known as Gregory the Great, was one of the most important popes, and his positive legacy is still felt today - not least in Britain. This is the story … 

Christians redouble efforts to stop assisted suicide
Christians redouble efforts to stop assisted suicide

Christians are doubling down on efforts to stop assisted suicide becoming legal in England and Wales after Kim Leadbeater's bill was debated in Westminster on Friday. 

Christian leaders unite in Westminster to kick off 2025 ‘Shine Your Light’ evangelism campaign
Christian leaders unite in Westminster to kick off 2025 ‘Shine Your Light’ evangelism campaign

More than 100 Christian leaders recently came together at a parliamentary reception in London for the launch of Shine Your Light 2025 — a bold evangelistic initiative aiming to bring the message of Christ to streets, neighbourhoods, and marketplaces across the UK.

Darlington nurses still waiting for single-sex changing space despite Supreme Court ruling
Darlington nurses still waiting for single-sex changing space despite Supreme Court ruling

An NHS trust has been accused of continually flouting the law around women’s rights by requiring female nurses to get changed in front of a biologically male nurse who goes by the name of “Rose”.