Opinion: 'Biden’s PR meetings will not appease Muslim Americans'

In a column for Middle East Eye, law professor Nadia Ahmad and activist Saleema Gul argue that Joe Biden's meeting with a select group of American Muslim leaders would not placate community members outrage over his support for Israeli actions in Gaza. 

"Biden cannot placate our communities with superficial offers of domestic policy in return for our silence or dilution of foreign policy demands vis-a-vis Muslim, Arab and Palestinian issues. As the mainstream narrative sidesteps these urgent issues, a fresh wave of activists has grown disillusioned with Biden's disregard for their demands and the party’s tokenism," they write.

"Their concerns and demands, particularly when it comes to the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza, are in line with the majority of American voters, 66 percent of whom support a ceasefire, along with 80 percent of Democratic voters."

"The days of employing stock phrases to win Muslim votes are over, inshallah," they continue.

"Today, the role of some Muslim-American organisations, which are supposed to be the vanguard of community sentiments, are under the scanner. Their affiliations with the Pentagon and surveillance agencies along with the meek activism of leaders - coupled with glitzy fundraising galas and red carpet events - could never bolster Muslim empowerment but only continue their role as tokenised gatekeepers."

You can read the full column below. 

Opinion: Biden’s PR meetings will not appease Muslim Americans over Gaza genocide