Politics1 min read

As Islamophobia ramps up in US midterms, Texas Muslims eye local stakes

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Texas Muslims are organizing aggressive turnout drives to challenge state policies and rhetoric that they argue marginalize their communities and endanger their children. Leaders like Governor Greg Abbott and Senator Ted Cruz have actively promoted bans against Sharia law, even though no domestic jurisdictions have ever enacted it. In response, groups such as the Islamic Society of Greater Houston are utilizing Friday prayers to register voters and build electoral leverage.

Key points

  • State political leadership continues to advance policies that target Islamic practices de…: State political leadership continues to advance policies that target Islamic practices despite Muslims comprising less than two percent of the population.
  • Community organizers are leveraging weekly religious services across local mosques to boo…: Community organizers are leveraging weekly religious services across local mosques to boost civic participation and voter turnout.
  • Texas Muslims aim to build collective electoral influence to deter politicians from using…: Texas Muslims aim to build collective electoral influence to deter politicians from using their families as convenient political targets.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Texas Muslims grapple with a slate of policies they say stigmitise their community, push for change at the ballot box.

Houston, Texas – The final stretch of the United States midterm elections has been shrouded in growing Islamophobia, centred most prominently on Muslim candidates, such as Michigan Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed.

This climate of prejudice may be presenting as a national issue, but it has been years in the making in Texas, where state politicians have pushed rhetoric and policies that Muslim voters say stigmatise their very existence.

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Even without a Muslim candidate on a statewide ballot, the election’s stakes, Muslim voters said, are extremely local.

“Honestly, I feel it most through my kids,” said Samir Nadjam, a lawyer from Houston, who attended a “Fall Fest” celebration…

Politics