US imams urge muslim voters to back Harris against Trump

On Monday, a group of imams from across the United States published an open letter expressing their support for Vice President Kamala Harris. In the document, the religious leaders address Muslim voters, urging them to exercise caution and reject Donald Trump's candidacy in the upcoming presidential elections, according to NBC News.

The imams emphasise that voting for Trump or other candidates amidst the conflict in the Gaza Strip could harm the interests of Muslim communities in the US and worldwide.

In the letter, published by 25 imams and leaders of Muslim communities from the largest cities in the country, there is an appeal not to let anger and emotions guide voting decisions.

Considering his (Trump's) well-documented history of harming our communities and the country, as well as what he promised to do to Muslims and Palestinians if he returns, it is our duty not to let strong emotions take over and work against us. We cannot turn our backs on our diverse Muslim community at home and those abroad affected by US policies at a time of our pain and anger, the letter states.

They also pointed out that another Trump victory could be a "moral and strategic failure" not only for the Muslim community but also for the USA.

The religious leaders referenced the 2016 presidential election when Trump won in Michigan by just over 11,000 votes. Michigan is one of the largest Muslim enclaves in the United States, making their votes particularly crucial in the upcoming elections.

The authors of the letter also seek to defend Kamala Harris against accusations regarding her stance on the situation in Gaza. The imams argue that "what is happening" in the Gaza Strip is not Harris's fault, as she does not hold the position of president.

They also emphasised that the vice president has taken a critical stance towards the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which stands in stark contrast to Donald Trump's policy, who called for Israel's prime minister to "finish the job" in Gaza.

Some Muslim leaders, including the only Muslim mayor in the USA, Yemeni-American Amer Ghalib, decided to support Donald Trump. Ghalib, who is the mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, stated that Trump "advocates for peace."

Other Muslim and Arab leaders have called for a boycott of the elections or support for independent candidates, such as Jill Stein from the Green Party and African-American activist Cornel West.