Muslims and U.S. Foreign Policy

Mohsin Mohi-Ud Din, an American Muslim, explores Muslim-American relations in an article for The Huffington Post. According to the piece, both the Muslim Community and non-Muslim Americans tend to “let the negative marginalize the good and true” about all involved. Among many factors explored, Mohi-Ud Din describes how Muslims “are often confused by your (America) political and military actions, which sometimes contradict the pro-freedom, pro-democratic, pro-human rights rhetoric.” He cites specifically civilian deaths throughout the Muslim world as well as the CIA supported 1953 coup against the democratically-elected Mohammad Mossadeq in Iran. While many Muslims disagree with American politics, Mohi-Ud Din insists America is “not just a country” but an “idea that is looked up to by the world.”

That idea was manifest this Friday when thousands of Muslims descended upon the Capitol Building for the weekly Friday prayers. The event was aimed to address negative Muslim stereotypes and affirm the patriotism of Muslim Americans.