E d i t or s P i c k
The
Muslim Legal Fund
of America
A n I n t e r v i e w w i t h A bd u l l a h A l M a m u n
What happens when a Muslim is
dealt with unjustly by the legal
system of the United States? You
give a call to the MLFA, the
Muslim Legal Fund of America.
MLFA was started in 2012 in
Dallas, Texas and became a key
proponent of justice in America.
Legal battles are costly, especially cases involving wrongly
accused Muslims taken to Federal court on terrorism
charges. This is where the MLFA comes in. Backed by
donations and vigorous fundraising, it specializes in funding
important, legal battles involving Muslims who were
unjustly treated by the legal system. I sat down with
Abdullah Al Mamun, the New York regional director of the
MLFA to learn more about what he and the organization had
done in this regard.
"If you've committed a legitimate crime, and you happen to
be Muslim, don't bother giving us a call." he said. "But if
you are a Muslim who have been wrongly accused of a
crime and have faced injustice, this is where the MLFA will
come in."
The MLFA's central goal is not just about helping Muslims
caged by nonsensical accusations but also creating a just
America. Mr. Mamun talked to me at length about several of
the high profile cases that the MLFA has funded. Perhaps the
Abdullah AlMamun is the regional director for
MLFA New York and former MUNA Youth
Assistant Youth Director. He has founded several
projects such as MuslimCal and Khair Media with
the aim of empowering the American Muslim.
page 5
most recognizable is the case of the Irvine 11 where 11 students
were arrested and sentenced for protesting the speech of Israel's
ambassador Michel Oren on their campus.
This case has shaken California and has called into question the
constitutional rights of free speech and protest. Mr. Mamun
explained to me in great detail that had this been any other
speaker being heckled by any other person, the individual
would probably have been disciplined by University officials.
In this case, these 11 Muslims were arrested and charged
criminally, yes, criminally, for speaking out!
One would hope that these events are just anomalies in America
that happen rarely. But unfortunately, Muslims being unjustly
accused is a reality that the MLFA is dealing with on a daily
basis.
Some accusations are so laughable that they are truly shocking.
Consider the case of an active Imam Mr. Hafiz Khan in
Texas. He was charged with aiding terrorists because he would
inquire about his 'Taliban' the Arabic word for 2 or more
students back home during phone calls!
It is not so far from home as we may think. I was taken aback
when Mr. Mamun told me that close to 30,000 Muslims are
being held in CMUs (Communications Management Units)
secretive and isolated federal prisons all across the country
and some because of faintest suspicion of a crime. Some
Muslim activists (such as sister Afia Siddiqui) are judged by the
Government based on petty evidence and hope for justice is
dim as very few are willing to fund and/or take on such a case.
These are just a few of the cases the MLFA has been directly
involved with. Others include the fight to acquit the members of
the now dismantled Holy Land Foundation, the biggest Muslim
Charity Organization of its kind in their time.
Mr. Mamun constantly stressed one point, that the MLFA is
essentially providing a crucial service by fighting for the rights
of Muslims in America and accomplishing this requires
tremendous amounts of financial power. "You are not helping
me by giving MLFA a check for $5 or $5000, you are helping
yourself!" he emphasized. "This Organization is giving you an
opportunity to help your Muslim brothers and sisters and at the
same time demand the rights that America provides to
everyone."
My interview with Abdullah Al Mamun was, in many ways, a
reality check on the challenges that minorities especially
Muslims face in America. It is also reminder of our critical
need to organize and assist one another so that no Muslim can
ever be charged or discriminated against because of his/her
religion.
The United States is unique in that it provides us with a clear
system for this, enumerating the rights of every citizen. Thus,
the MLFA is unyielding in defending the constitution and the
right of every Muslim citizen in the United States. It is dually
committed towards the Muslims and to America, and so should
we.
An interview by the editors
A MUNA Youth Publication