CHRONIQUE DE L'ISLAMISATION DES USA

(mooning on the capitol hill....)

Muslims use religion as advantage to creep into Congress

Posted on June 21, 2010 by creepingsharia

More on the Muslims-only Congressional (and Congressionally approved) group, and more Islamophilia, via Congress’ Muslim Staff Bridge Faith And Politics.

WASHINGTON (RNS)

It’s a long way from the Syrian refugee camp where Mouaz Moustafa started his life to the Capitol Hill office building where he spends his days handling reams of correspondence for a U.S. senator.

Within the span of just 10 years, Moustafa says he’s now living the American dream at the age of 25.

“I really wanted to get into politics,” Moustafa said, “because I saw a place where we can actually … have a voice.”

He’s one of a growing number of Muslims who work on Capitol Hill even as their faith continues to generate suspicion in the minds of many Americans. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks forever changed America’s interaction with the Muslim world, the jobs can be challenging, but also, Moustafa says, an opportunity.

Muslims staffers have their own group, the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association, and host Friday prayers in the Capitol building. Yet some, including Moustafa, decline to say publicly which senator they work for, citing the heightened tensions of an election year.

Assad R. Akhter, president of the Muslim staff association and legislative director for a member of Congress who he also asked to remain unnamed, said Muslims can use questions about their religion to their advantage.

“Because there is a spotlight on Muslims and because people want to know more and have concerns, people take an interest,” said Akhter, 29. “We take that as an opportunity.”

Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., became the first Muslim congressman when he was elected in 2006; Indiana Democrat Andre Carson followed two years later. Both men sponsor the Muslim staff group, which boasts more than 100 members ranging from chiefs of staff to research associates.

The members work across Capitol Hill, from the House and Senate to the Library of Congress, the Congressional Budget Office and Capitol Police Department.

Akhter, noting the difficulty of finding space for his daily prayers, said “I pray in the congressman’s office when he’s not there when I have a chance.”

He said others find different ways to incorporate prayer into the day, although it’s not always easy, but it does give Muslim staffers a chance to explain their faith.

Moustafa said praying five times a day can be “tricky” but he never misses “jummah” prayers at noon on Fridays. Jummah prayers are typically held in a mosque; on the Hill, congressional staffers gather in a room in the Capitol building to pray together.

Attendance varies based on the seasons, with summer typically drawing more interns. In the spring, however, around 50 people attend.

A quiet air of reverence settles over the room as worshippers slip off their shoes and silence their BlackBerrys. Women in long skirts with their heads covered in colored headscarves join men in suits in prayer from the back of the room.

Not only do Muslim staffers convert Capitol Hill into a mosque every Friday, they enforce sharia law there – treating women as second class citizens who must pray separately from, or behind, Muslim men.

Where are all those ardent secularists who want to remove all religious symbols and activities from government life? [crickets]

The original piece is here, but subscriber only, if anyone has access, please share as we’re curious what the 800 figure refers to.

WASHINGTON (RNS) Kimberlee Hauss talks with members of the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association who say they’re proud to serve their country on Capitol Hill, even if it means they can’t always publicly say which lawmaker they work for. About 800 ===============================