Define Islamophobia so that violence against Muslims in New Jersey is accounted for | Opinion

Define Islamophobia so that in New Jersey violence against Muslims can be punished

Madina P. Ouedraogo is the government affairs manager for CAIR-NJ, and Dina Sayedahmed is their communications manager. They say the Defining Islamophobia bill would expedite the process for accountability and deter perpetrators of anti-Muslim violence, while the same-day voter registration would open avenues for marginalized groups to establish voting blocs to directly advocate for themselves.

By Madina P. Ouedraogo and Dina Sayedahmed

Earlier this month, a delegation of over 100 New Jersey Muslims and allies gathered at the State House in Trenton to meet with over 30 state legislators and push for six policy issues, most prominent among them the defining Islamophobia and establishing same-day voter registration bills.

With Islamophobia steadily on the rise — New Jersey ranks among the top 10 states for anti-mosque incidents — and low voter turnout. Until local lawmakers adopt these key pieces of legislation, New Jersey’s Muslim community will continue to be targeted and marginalized populations will continue to go unaccounted for.

If passed, the defining Islamophobia bill would be the first of its kind and, much like the bill to define anti-Semitism, would be used to determine whether an act of violence is motivated by anti-Muslim hate intent.


      

The bill provides that, in reviewing or investigating a potentially anti-Muslim bias incident, a public official or law enforcement officer is required to take into consideration the definition of Islamophobia.

This past year alone, the Council on American Islamic Relations’ New Jersey chapter documented over 100 cases of anti-Muslim discrimination and/or bias incidents. Between 2014 and 2019, there were at least 10,015 anti-Muslim bias incidents, which included 1,164 anti-Muslim hate crimes.

In a recent study, CAIR found that 69% of more than 1,000 American Muslims surveyed said they had experienced bigotry or discrimination. According to a 2017 Pew Research Poll, while perceptions of religious groups improved overall in 2017, Muslims ranked most negatively of all religious groups, scoring 48 out of 100. Another Pew Research study found that 82% of American adults say that Muslims are subject to at least some discrimination in the United States.

If passed, the Defining Islamophobia bill would expedite the process for accountability and possibly deter perpetrators of anti-Muslim violence.

Voter turnout in New Jersey’s 2021 general election was among the lowest in a century, hovering at just 40%. Advocates for same-day voter registration, including CAIR-NJ, argue that because same-day voter registration removes the obstacle of timely registration, it could yield higher voter turnout.

A University of Massachusetts study found that same-day voter registration yielded a 2% to 17% higher Black and Latino voter turnout compared with states without same-day voter registration. New Jersey would join 19 other states and the District of Columbia where voters can register and vote on Election Day if same-day voter registration is signed into law. Through this bill, Muslim and other marginalized populations’ voices could be amplified. It would also open avenues for marginalized groups to establish voting blocs to directly advocate for themselves.

Citing lived experiences and time-tested research, New Jersey Muslims and their allies are calling on New Jersey state lawmakers to adopt these pieces of legislation that will protect and uplift marginalized New Jerseyans. The numbers are narratives are chilling, and the only step forward is through legislative support.

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CAIR-NJ is the New Jersey chapter of the Council on Americans Islamic Relations, America’s largest Muslim civil rights organization. Madina P. Ouedraogo, MPA-PNP, is the government affairs manager for CAIR-NJ, and Dina Sayedahmed, is the communications manager for CAIR-NJ.

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