• Alukah English HomepageSitemapRSS
  • Alukah English Homepage
  • Alukah Guestbook
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Make us your Homepage
  • Contact Us
Alukah in Arabic
Alukah is a rich, cultural website supervised by Dr. Khaled El-Jeraissy and Dr. Saad El-Hmed
 
Website of Dr. Sadd Bin Abdullah El-Hmed  Supervised By 
  • Homepage
  • Islamic Shariah
  • Thoughts and Knowledge
  • Society and Reform
  • Counsels
  • Muslims around the World
  • Library
 All Sections | News   Reportage   Articles   Special Coverage  
  •  
    Safi Kaskas and Abdalrahman Aboelmajd discuss The Qur’an, A ...
    Abdur-Rahman Abul-Majd
  •  
    Samira Amarir and Abdalrahman Abulmajd about Jenna the ...
    Abdur-Rahman Abul-Majd
  •  
    Marek Dziekan and Abdalrahman Abulmajd about Qur'anic ...
    Abdur-Rahman Abul-Majd
  •  
    Lisa Suhay and Abdalrahman Abou Almajd around Mrs. Lisa's ...
    Abdur-Rahman Abul-Majd
  •  
    Peter Bussey and AbdurRahman Abou Almajd Modern Physics ...
    Abdur-Rahman Abul-Majd
  •  
    Rebecca Ruth Gould and Abdalrahman Abou Almajd about ...
    Abdur-Rahman Abul-Majd
  •  
    Sheeza Ali and Abdalrahman Abulmajd discuss God is not a ...
    Abdur-Rahman Abul-Majd
  •  
    This is what it’s like to do Ramadan fasting in the ...
    Independent
  •  
    Ramadan also about Quran’s True Message
    The Star
  •  
    Muslims free to observe Fasting in China
    The News
  •  
    Gambia bans music, dance during Ramadan
    punchng
  •  
    Jerry Bergman and Abdalrahman Abulmajd discuss Darwinism as ...
    Abdur-Rahman Abul-Majd
Home / Muslims Around the World / Reportage

Making US history: 'First-ever' Muslim-Majority Council elected in Michigan Town

rt.com

Published On: 22/12/2015 A.D. - 10/3/1437 H.   Visited: 4816 times     



Print Friendly Version Send to your friend Visitors CommentsPost a CommentFollow Comments



Full Text Increase Font SizeReset Font SizeDecrease Font Size
Share it



In what is a true milestone for the US, shifting demographics have led to a traditionally Polish-Catholic city in Michigan electing 'the first-ever' Muslim-majority council in America's history.

The city of Hamtramck held a recent election, with a total of six candidates vying for three seats. The top three vote-winners were all Muslim. The result is now a six-member council, with four of the members Muslims. Two of the councilors were incumbent and one seat occupied by a Muslim was not up for re-election.

According to the Detroit Free Press, some believe the city is 'the first in the US' with a Muslim majority on its city council: three of the representatives are of Bangladeshi descent and a fourth if of Yemeni heritage.

"Hamtramck has made history," community leader Bill Meyer said. "The election was far from close, with the three Muslim winners each gaining over 1,000 votes, while the other three candidates garnered less than 700 votes each."

The Muslim candidates told the Free Press that they promise to represent every resident, regardless of race or creed.

"I represent every single citizen in Hamtramck," said Councilman Musa, who came in second.

According to the US Census, Hamtramck has always been known for its Polish population, but is now largely Yemeni (19 percent out of a total of 24 percent Arabs in the city), 19 percent African-American, 15 percent Bangladeshi and only 12 percent Polish. Another 6 percent are former Yugoslavs, mostly Bosnians.

The city even has its own Bangla Town, an area dedicated to celebrating the relationship with Bangladesh and its culture. Governor Rick Snyder attended the opening on Friday. Hamtramck has a 41 percent immigrant population, the highest percentage in the Detroit metropolitan area.

Meyer, told the Free Press that Muslims have actually contributed to the city by bringing “stability, security and sobriety while lessening the amount of drugs and crime…”

Although Islam has been spreading steadily through the area, it wasn’t until roughly 10 years ago, in 2004, that the city allowed the broadcast of the Muslim call to prayer five times a day. And it’s been a rocky road. For instance, Sudan Dunn, who came in fourth in the council, has been raising the issue as part of her platform.

But Saad Almasmari, 28, who came first, had a good response to those who perceive the ritual as noisy or disruptive to their morning routines.

"We all want to live peacefully and respectfully," he said in a video on his Facebook account in October. "Our special thing is ... the diversity in this town."

He further said the call to prayer is “not as loud as [Dunn] thinks”. He added that if a call to prayer were to be considered as noise, then, surely, “the loud music all night long while we are sleeping” could be considered that as well.

"We as Muslims respect our neighbors and we don't like to bother anybody," he added.



Print Friendly Version Send to your friend Visitors CommentsPost a CommentFollow Comments



Selected From Alukah.net

  • London elects its First-Ever Muslim Mayor(Article - Muslims Around the World)
  • Muslim Majority Districts in Assam up(Article - Muslims Around the World)
  • Malaysia Launches First Ever Shariah Index(Article - Muslims Around the World)
  • Yusuf Islam Embarks on his First-Ever Middle East Tour(Article - Muslims Around the World)
  • French Archbishop: 'We'll have a Muslim majority in 20, 30 years'(Article - Muslims Around the World)
  • "History of the Muslim American Experience" to be Taught at University of Michigan(Article - Muslims Around the World)
  • Be quiet when making a dialogue with your son(Article - Society and Reform)
  • "…and then follows it with six days in Shawwâl" – Before Making Up Missed Days of Ramadan(Article - Islamic Shariah)
  • 13 Muslims, including 8 Women, elected to British Parliament(Article - Muslims Around the World)
  • More Tourists pick Cape Town for Ramadan(Article - Muslims Around the World)

 


Add your comment:
Name  
Email (Will not be shown to visitors)
Country
Comment Title
Comment

Please write: COMMENT in this box to verify that you are human

Enter the above code here:
Can't read? Try different words.
Our Authors
  • Those who disobey God and follow their sinful lusts..
  • One can attain real happiness
  • Islam clearly reveals to us more details about the one true ...
  • Allah the one true God is Creator, not created
  • Allah is only one, he has no children, partners or equals
  • Allah is eternal, he does not die or change
  • Islam leads to ultimate truth and success
  • Try to find out the truth abut Islam
Participate
Contribute
Spread the word
Tell a friend
All Rights Reserved © 1444H / 2023 to Alukah.Net
Site was last updated on : 6/7/1444H - at: 14:26